National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum

Gallery of Icons

The Gallery of Icons features the inventors honored by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Touchscreens allow visitors to interact with the gallery and learn about each inventor. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Inductee Exhibits

The most recent Hall of Fame inductees are showcased with their inventions. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power Exhibit

The Intellectual Property Power exhibit highlights the impact that patents and trademarks have in the modern world. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power: George Eastman Museum Exhibit

Get a picture of how innovations have transformed photography and the personal camera. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power: Ford Motor Company Exhibit

Step inside a one-of-a-kind 1965/2015 Ford Mustang and see how 50 years of technological innovations have changed the way we interact with our cars. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power: Qualcomm Exhibit

A timeline in the Qualcomm exhibit illustrates the evolution of the cell phone. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power: History of Patent Examination

The History of Patent Examination exhibit explores the history of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and features patent models used to examine patent applications, such as this prototype of Edison’s lightbulb. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
Intellectual Property Power: Trademarks Exhibit

While Americans are familiar with the Energizer Bunny, Europe and Australia know the Duracell Bunny. The Trademark exhibit tells the story of these trademarks and many others. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO
National Inventors Hall of Fame Programs

The Collegiate Inventors Competition is just one of the programs that NIHF and the USPTO participate in to help advance inventors of all ages and backgrounds. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO

The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) is free and located on the United States Patent and Trademark Office campus in Alexandria, Va. Visitors can interact with and explore our kiosks and archives.

Visit

Current Exhibits

National Inventors Hall of Fame

The National Inventors Hall of Fame showcases the over 500 inventors who have been inducted into NIHF and their great technological achievements that helped stimulate growth for our nation and beyond. NIHF inspires the next generation of innovators by connecting them through the story of invention. The interactive gallery of icons allows you to discover how these innovators have shaped the world around us. The most recent inductees are featured in a special display where you can see prototypes of their inventions and hear them discuss their inventive processes.

Intellectual Property Power

Celebrate the story of intellectual property and appreciate its significance to progress, innovation and culture. To illustrate how trademarks and patented material make modern amenities possible, this experience features installations from:

The Ford Motor Company: Take a seat in a one-of-a-kind ride—a 1965 Ford Mustang merged with a 2015 Ford Mustang (see video below). You’ll get a hands-on experience with Intellectual Property Power and see first-hand how patents fuel the evolution of technology.
The George Eastman Museum: Get a full picture of the progression and development of the camera and interact with cultural touchstones of imaging history.
Qualcomm: Plug into the story of Qualcomm’s smartphone technology, powered by our patent system. Started decades ago with the aim of giving each person their own phone number, today these innovations enhance the lives of billions of people around the world.

History of Patent Examination

See how the Patent Office and the process of patent examination have changed over the past 226 years, featuring patent models that were submitted to the office in the 1800s.

Programs

Learn how the NIHF is helping to grow the next generation of great inventors through program like the Collegiate Inventors Competition, Invention Project, Camp Invention, and Patents for Humanity.

Plan Your Visit

The NIHF Museum is completely free and open to the public. It is located in the atrium of the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Va., and is easily accessible from the King Street and Eisenhower Avenue Metro stations. Please check our location page to obtain information about local mass transportation systems, to view a larger area map, and to obtain driving and parking directions.

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays and federal holidays*. There is a gift shop.

School and group tours are welcome at the museum. Please contact tours@uspto.gov or the Office of the Chief Communications Officer at 571-272-8400 at least two weeks ahead of time to schedule a group tour.

If you cannot come visit in person, check out this virtual tour of the museum with Mo Rocca, Emmy award-winning CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and host of the Henry Ford's Innovation Nation.

History

NIHF was founded in 1973 by the USPTO and the National Council of Patent Law Associations, now the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Associations.

Previously located in Akron, Ohio, the NIHF Museum was moved in 2008 to the campus of the USPTO in Alexandria, Va. The museum is run by the nonprofit, National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the USPTO.

*2017 federal holidays: Inauguration Day on January 20, President's Day on February 20, Memorial Day on May 29, Independence Day on July 4, Labor Day on September 4, Columbus Day on October 9, Veterans Day (observed on November 10, Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 23, and Christmas Day on December 25.