Industry & Manufacturing

The Museum's collections document centuries of remarkable changes in products, manufacturing processes, and the role of industry in American life. In the bargain, they preserve artifacts of great ingenuity, intricacy, and sometimes beauty.

The carding and spinning machinery built by Samuel Slater about 1790 helped establish the New England textile industry. Nylon-manufacturing machinery in the collections helped remake the same industry more than a century later. Machine tools from the 1850s are joined by a machine that produces computer chips. Thousands of patent models document the creativity of American innovators over more than 200 years.

The collections reach far beyond tools and machines. Some 460 episodes of the television series Industry on Parade celebrate American industry in the 1950s. Numerous photographic collections are a reminder of the scale and even the glamour of American industry.

Die-cut piece from a sheet of celluloid, with silk cord attached. At center is an image of Revolutionary War soldiers, including George Washington. Two flags are gathered as bunting on either side.
Description (Brief)
Die-cut piece from a sheet of celluloid, with silk cord attached. At center is an image of Revolutionary War soldiers, including George Washington. Two flags are gathered as bunting on either side. The flags are Christian "conquest flags." These consist of a white field with a red cross and a blue field with the slogan, "By this sign conquer," written in white.
The words "Rally Day" are written along the bottom. The term "rally day" was first used in 1906 to describe a celebration of George Washington's birthday.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
ID Number
2006.0098.0690
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0690

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