Invention at Play

Invention at Play

Closed November 27, 2011

What do the inventors behind Post-it Notes, robotic ants, Kevlar and the telephone have in common with children? Play! This was the inaugural subject for the new Lemelson Hall of Invention, the Lemelson Center’s first dedicated public exhibition space at the Museum.

With its highly interactive and engaging activities created especially for families, "Invention at Play" focused on similarities between the ways children and adults play and the creative skills and processes used by inventors. Visitors of all ages experienced various playful habits of mind that underlie invention, such as curiosity, imagination, visual thinking, model building and problem solving.

Visitors also "met" inventors and innovators through compelling personal stories, photos and artifacts, and even had a chance to learn to windsurf on the Sailboard Simulator, which is based on a design by sailboard inventor Newman Darby.

You can see information and stories relating to this exhibition on the Lemelson Center's website.