National Inventors Hall of Fame facts for kids
Display of inductees in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Alexandria
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| Abbreviation | NIHF |
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| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | NPO |
| Legal status | Organization |
| Purpose | "Honor[ing] the women and men responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible." |
| Headquarters | 3701 Highland Park N.W. North Canton, Ohio 44720 |
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Region served
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United States |
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Membership
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603 inventors |
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Official language
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English |
| Affiliations | Invent Now America |
The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) is an American organization that celebrates amazing inventors. It was started in 1973. This non-profit group honors people who have created important technology and hold a U.S. patent for their inventions.
Besides honoring inventors, the NIHF also runs a museum in Alexandria, Virginia. It also supports cool educational programs and a competition for college students. As of 2020, 603 inventors have been inducted. Most of them are historical figures. However, about 100 living inventors have also been honored. To be chosen, an inventor must have a U.S. patent that has greatly helped the country. Their invention must also advance science and useful arts.
Contents
History of the National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame began in 1973. It was the idea of H. Hume Mathews. He was the head of a group called the National Council of Patent Law Associations. Ed Sobey helped launch the Hall of Fame and became its first director. In 1974, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. became a big supporter.
Early Locations of the Hall of Fame
At first, the Hall of Fame was inside the United States Patent and Trademark Office building. This was in Washington, D.C., close to the Washington National Airport. But it quickly needed more space and a better location. In 1986, a committee was formed to find a new home. For a while, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seemed like the top choice.
Moving to Akron, Ohio
However, in 1987, a patent attorney named Edwin "Ned" Oldham led an effort to move the Hall to Akron, Ohio. Akron offered a lot of financial support. This was much more than any other city. So, the Board of Directors chose Akron as the new home. The new building was finished in 1995. It opened to the public as "Inventure Place."
Inventure Place: More Than a Museum
Inventure Place was designed to be more than just a museum. It was also meant to be a workshop for inventors. It aimed to be a national center for creativity. The building was designed by James Polshek. It looked like curving white sails made of stainless steel. Inside, it had five levels of exhibits. One exhibit let visitors use computers to make animations. They could also create laser-light shows.
Changes and New Homes
However, not enough people visited the museum. It never made a profit. But other programs like Invent Now and Camp Invention were very successful. In 2002, the museum's name changed to the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum. Six years later, the Hall moved to Alexandria, Virginia. The old building in Akron became a special school. It is now the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School. This school is for students in grades 5 through 8.
Activities of the National Inventors Hall of Fame
In Alexandria, the National Inventors Hall of Fame has a museum. It is located inside the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office building. The museum features digital pictures of the honored inventors. It also has interactive screens and a theater. The best part is that admission is free!
Besides showing artifacts and documents, the Hall of Fame also runs special programs. These include Camp Invention, Club Invention, and the Collegiate Inventors Competition.
Camp Invention: Summer Fun for Kids
Camp Invention started in 1990. It is a daytime summer camp for children. These camps are held in 49 states across the country. Camp Invention is a well-known summer program. It focuses on creativity, new ideas, and solving real-world problems. It also teaches kids about the spirit of invention.
Collegiate Inventors Competition
The Collegiate Inventors Competition began in 1990. Its goal is to encourage college students to be creative. It wants them to use science, engineering, and technology. This helps them find solutions to problems in the world. Since it started, the competition has given over $1 million to winning students. There are two categories: undergraduate and graduate.
In 2012, some winning ideas included a new way to treat cancer. Another winning idea was a method to make suturing easier in surgery. Other finalists created amazing things too. One team used CT scanning and 3-D printing to make a copy of a lost hand. Another invented a special shoulder brace for athletes. There was even an electric motorcycle that used spheres instead of wheels!
Inductees
The National Inventors Hall of Fame honors people who have made incredible inventions. These inventors hold U.S. patents for their important contributions. You can find a full list of all the honored inventors by clicking the link above.
See also
- NASA spinoff
- Science and technology in the United States
- Technological and industrial history of the United States
- Timeline of United States inventions
- Timeline of United States discoveries
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Yankee ingenuity
