Nation of Inventors

Nation of Inventors celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.

Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. Nation of Inventors showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.

In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.

Nation of Inventors is a must-see attraction for families with children, museumgoers interested in stories of innovation and invention, and visitors who are ready to rediscover Hagley.

https://www.hagley.org/plan-your-visit/what-to-see/exhibits/nation-inventors

Hagley posted a story about how the year-long delay if the exhibit due to flooding of the building allowed the addition of an iron of special significance. “It was the first American patent for an iron, the twenty-ninth patent issued to a woman in the United States, and the oldest known surviving model submitted by a woman.”

https://www.hagley.org/librarynews/museum-collection-cook-ing-addition-nation-inventors