Spark!Lab at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History allows museum visitors to become hands-on inventors by offering interactive spaces where children and families can test designs, solve engineering challenges, and build working prototypes. Operated by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, the program is designed to demystify the inventive process for young learners.
How Spark!Lab Engages Young Inventors
According to the Smithsonian Institution, Spark!Lab provides themed challenges that encourage participants to follow the invention process: think, explore, sketch, create, test, and improve. Visitors do not just view historical artifacts; they use traditional materials and modern technology to build their own solutions to everyday problems. Staff and volunteers guide participants through open-ended activities that emphasize persistence and creative problem-solving.
The Role of the Lemelson Center
Established in 1995, the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation documents invention history, advances scholarship, and fosters inventive creativity in future generations. The center sponsors educational outreach programs, including Spark!Lab, to bridge historical innovation with contemporary science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education. By studying historic patents and modern inventions, the center highlights how ordinary people develop extraordinary solutions.
Visitor Information and Program Availability
Spark!Lab is located on the ground floor of the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Admission to the museum and the invention workspace is free for the public. Operating hours and specific daily activities are posted regularly on the official Lemelson Center and Smithsonian websites, providing families with up-to-date details on hands-on workshops and special family programming.