National Inventors Hall of Fame

History

The National Inventors Hall of Fame was founded in 1973 on the initiative of H. Hume Mathews, then chairman of the National Council of Patent Law Associations. It was launched by Ed Sobey, who also served as its first director. In 1974, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office became a major sponsor. Initially housed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C., near Washington National Airport, the hall soon required more space at a more prominent location.

A committee formed in 1986 to find a new home; the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia was an early frontrunner. In 1987, patent attorney Edwin "Ned" Oldham, representing the National Council of Patent Law Associations, led the effort to move the hall to Akron. According to founding board member Maurice H. Klitzman, the city of Akron's guaranteed financial support, which greatly exceeded any other community's proposal, led the board to select Akron.

Construction finished in 1995, and the hall opened to the public as Inventure Place. Designed by New York City architect James Stewart Polshek, the stainless-steel building was shaped like a curving row of white sails with five tiers of exhibits, including computer programs for animations and laser-light shows. Attendance fell short of expectations, and the museum never turned a profit, though related ventures like Invent Now and Camp Invention were more successful.

In 2002, the name changed to the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum. Six years later, it moved to Alexandria, Virginia. The former Akron facility was converted into a specialty school for grades 5 through 8, and since 2010 it has been the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School for the Akron Public Schools. An annual induction ceremony honors new members, with venues varying over the years.

Activities

The National Inventors Hall of Fame runs a free museum inside the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office building on Dulany Street in Alexandria. It offers digital portraits of inductees, interactive kiosks, and a theater. Alongside exhibits drawn from the Patent Office’s own artifacts and documents, the organization also runs Camp Invention, Club Invention, and the Collegiate Inventors Competition. Camp Invention, a daytime summer program for kids launched in 1990, operates in 49 states and emphasizes creativity and practical problem-solving.

The Collegiate Inventors Competition, also started in 1990, pushes university students to apply science and engineering to real-world challenges. With sponsor backing, it has given out over a million dollars to winners in undergraduate and graduate categories. In 2012, top prizes went to a cancer treatment delivery system and a tool for easier suturing in abdominal surgery.