Energy & Power
The Museum's collections on energy and power illuminate the role of fire, steam, wind, water, electricity, and the atom in the nation's history. The artifacts include wood-burning stoves, water turbines, and windmills, as well as steam, gas, and diesel engines. Oil-exploration and coal-mining equipment form part of these collections, along with a computer that controlled a power plant and even bubble chambers—a tool of physicists to study protons, electrons, and other charged particles.
A special strength of the collections lies in objects related to the history of electrical power, including generators, batteries, cables, transformers, and early photovoltaic cells. A group of Thomas Edison's earliest light bulbs are a precious treasure. Hundreds of other objects represent the innumerable uses of electricity, from streetlights and railway signals to microwave ovens and satellite equipment.
2,243
Page 1 of 113
-
Anchor Box 9 Building Blocks
- date made
- 1890s
- patent date
- 1880-10-26
- maker
- F. Ad. Richter and Company
- ID Number
- DL.69.0021
- catalog number
- 69.0021
- accession number
- 279532
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Daybook and Scrapbook
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date book made
- 1887
- ledger entry dates
- 1887-06-21 to 1888-09-04
- dates on newspaper clippings
- 1896
- postmarks on letters
- 1906-07 to 1906-08
- ID Number
- DL.62.0300
- catalog number
- 62.0300
- accession number
- 240815
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Shako
- Description
- Charleston Light Infantry cap, 1860.
- Among the conspicuous items worn by militiamen when the conflict began were shakos-- tall hats that could make soldiers prominent targets in battle. The prevailing tactics, however, called for opposing ranks to open fire on each other at close range, in which case even soldiers wearing inconspicuous clothing were plainly visible to their opponents. A greater danger was the deadly confusion that resulted when troops in motley dress were unable to tell friends from foes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1860-1890
- ID Number
- AF.61065M
- catalog number
- 61065M
- accession number
- 223708
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
coat
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca. 1880s
- associated date
- 1881 - 1891
- ID Number
- AF.46909
- catalog number
- 46909
- accession number
- 182935
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
sound recording
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- February 1890
- 1885 and 1890
- ID Number
- ME.287711
- catalog number
- 287711
- accession number
- 57694
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Grover Cleveland
- Description
- A likeness of Gover Cleveland who ran as the Democratic nominee for President in 1892.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1892
- depicted (sitter)
- Cleveland, Grover
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1892.F02
- catalog number
- 227739.1892.F02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Wallet
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1882
- inscribed date
- 1892-01-01
- printed date
- 1898
- 1899
- ID Number
- DL.033647B
- catalog number
- 33647B
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
The Old Reliable Schuttler Wagon. Presented by Peter Schuttler, Chicago
- Description (Brief)
- Color print of a wagon train descending a mountain road to a central level area beside a river. A wooden fenced structure is located to the left with tents and a number of parked wagons across from it. This is an advertisement for Peter Schuttler, a prominent manufacturer of the wagons out of Chicago. Peter Schuttler was a German immigrant who learned his craft by working for a wagon maker in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1843 he moved to Chicago to start his own business by producing wagons for both the city and for Western travellers. By the 1850's, he had become a leading manufacturer of wagons partially due to the California Gold Rush, producing up to 1800 wagons a year. His son Peter took over the business when he died in 1865.
- This image was a copy of a 1875-1880 stereo viewby Thurlow of Manitou Springs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- n.d.
- date made
- ca 1885
- maker
- Clay & Company
- ID Number
- DL.60.3753
- catalog number
- 60.3753
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Cheeseball Holder
- Description
- Hollow-handled cheese ball holder or server with three adjustable clamping arms enclosing a small, slightly concave circular tray on a dome base edged in roses and ruffled leaves. The arms fit through three holes in the neck below tray and are attached to a screw knob mechanism on the underside that opens and closes them. Screw knob is struck incuse "QUADRUPLE PLATE" in serif letters above a circular crossed-hammers mark for "WILCOX SILVER PLATE C\o." with crossed raising hammers at center, the number "40" and "PATENTED" below.
- Maker is Wilcox Silver Plate Co. of Meriden, CT. The firm was founded as Wilcox Britannia Co. in 1865, and changed its name to Wilcox Silver Plate Co. in 1867. It was one of the founding members of International Silver Co. in 1898; Insilco continued to use the Wilcox name and trademark until circa 1961 when the line was consolidated with E. G. Webster & Son (purchased by Insilco in 1928) into Webster-Wilcox.
- Seth W. Babbitt of Meriden, CT, assignor to the Wilcox Plate Co. received U.S. Patent No. 453,571 on June 2, 1891 for "improvements in table articles designed to receive and securely hold cheeses of the kind particularly known as Edam and Pine-Apple".
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880s
- date patented
- 1891-06-02
- patent date
- 1891-06-02
- ID Number
- 1987.0140.1
- accession number
- 1987.0140
- catalog number
- 1987.140.1
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Trousers, Dismounted
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1890
- 1884-1888
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN80811W01
- designer number
- 576?
- catalog number
- 24911
- accession number
- 64127
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Model 1890
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1884
- used date
- 1890 - 1897
- maker
- J. Capps & Sons, Ltd.
- ID Number
- 1977.0178.03A
- catalog number
- 1977.0178.03A
- accession number
- 1977.0178
- catalog number
- 82833M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Volta Laboratory Experimental Recording
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- circa 1890
- about 1885
- ID Number
- ME.287700
- catalog number
- 287700
- accession number
- 57694
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
sound recording
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- March 2, 1890
- March 5,
- March 5, 1885
- ID Number
- ME.287718
- catalog number
- 287718
- accession number
- 57694
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
clock
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- late 19th century
- patent date
- March 19
- May 6
- December 23
- Jan. 13
- ID Number
- ME.330357
- catalog number
- 330357
- accession number
- 288889
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
sound recording
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- circa 1890
- circa 1885
- ID Number
- ME.287699
- catalog number
- 287699
- accession number
- 57694
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Swinging-Doll Clock
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1890
- date made
- ca 1888-1889
- manufacturer
- Ansonia Clock Co.
- ID Number
- ME.316108
- catalog number
- 316108
- accession number
- 225123
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
flag
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1895 - 1899
- associated date
- 1895 - 02 - 06
- 1878 - 11 - 13
- 1888
- 1889
- ID Number
- AF.59560-N
- catalog number
- 59560-N
- accession number
- 279690
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
bracelet
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1870 - 1890
- 1870 - 1885
- ID Number
- CS.200122.1265
- catalog number
- 200122.1265
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Set of six medium-screw base lamp sockets mounted on a board
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1897
- 1887
- ID Number
- EM.181757
- catalog number
- 181757
- accession number
- 33261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
1883 Sarah Henderson's Parlor Throw
- Description
- Sarah Elizabeth Smedley Henderson carefully crafted this silk parlor throw with a date of 1883. It was donated to the Collection in 1939 by her sister, Blanche Smedley-von Daur. Along with a third sister, Matilda Smedley, Sarah and Blanche were active in establishing the American National Institute in Paris.
- While living in Paris in the early 1890s, Matilda organized a successful program to assist young American women who were studying in France. She returned from France in the mid-1890s to expand this work. From modest beginnings, an Institute was established to aid struggling American art students in Paris. It was estimated in 1895 that over 3000 young women were studying in Paris. Matilda was the resident director of the Institute, which helped with living accomodations and provided a meeting place for the students. In 1908 bill was introduced in Congress to convert the New York-incorporated American National Institute to a Federal corporation, although the bill never became law.
- Plain-, pattern-woven, ribbed, watered and printed silks as well as velvet and plush fabrics, are found on this parlor throw. The crazy-patchwork frames a center square of pansies printed on velvet. Typical embroidered motifs, mainly floral, some painted motifs, and a Kate Greenaway printed vignette decorate the patches. The date, 1883, and a few initials are embroidered on the throw. Feather, straight, buttonhole, French knot, satin, stem, detached chain, chain, and herringbone stitches embellish the crazy-patchwork. It is lined with a printed wool fabric of plumed leaves and flowers in an imitation of a warp-print fabric. A dark red velvet 4-inch border completes the throw.
- Sarah born about 1866, and her sisters Blanche and Matilda were from Ireland. Sarah, according to the 1920 census, immigrated to the United States in 1886. Blanche and Matilda are shown on the passenger list of the ship Etruria that arrived in New York from England and Ireland in October 1886. Sarah married William Henderson about 1890. The couple had three children, William, James and Sarah Evelyn. It is not clear whether the date, 1883, that is found on the parlor throw is necessarily the date it was made, or a date significant for some other reason, as is sometimes the case.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880-1890
- date
- 1883
- maker
- Henderson, Sarah Elizabeth Smedley
- ID Number
- TE.T08319
- accession number
- 152313
- catalog number
- T08319
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
- data source
-
topic
- American Civil War (1861-1865) 246
- Civil War, 1861-1865 246
- Military 246
- Designating Flags 237
- Flags 138
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-WA-box 1 56
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-IL-box 7 50
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-NY-box 19 45
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-MA-box 15 42
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-MO-box 3 40
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-ND-box 1 38
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-TX-box 5 37
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-MA-box 13 36
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-OH-box 9 34
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-SD-box 1 34
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-MT-box 1 33
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-PA-box 21 33
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-PA-box 23 31
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-NY-box 15 29
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-IN-box 5 28
- object type
- date
- place
- culture
-
set name
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection 1935
- Coins, Currency and Medals 1934
- Military 246
- Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military 244
- Civil War 238
- Designating Flags 237
- Flags 237
- Cultural and Community Life: Domestic Life 28
- Domestic Furnishings 11
- Food 6
- Medicine and Science: Medicine 6
- Work and Industry: Mechanisms 6
- Cultural and Community Life: Ceramics and Glass 4
- Work and Industry: Electricity 4
- Engineering, Building, and Architecture 3
- Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, General 3
- Art 2
- Balm of America 2
- Cultural and Community Life: Textiles 2
- Health & Medicine 2
