We wish you a Happy National Inventors Day and invite you to check out the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History!

Before becoming the Director of the Diné College Museum in Arizona, Harry Walters spent three months at the Smithsonian learning techniques for the care and handling of artifacts, including their identification, description, conservation, storage, and exhibition.

Whether you have a little downtime or you wish you remembered what downtime was like, the Archives is here for you with a few distance learning activities and preservation tips.

Dr. Sharon Shaffer, Founding Director, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, 1988–2012, established a museum-based, educational program for young children at the Smithsonian. She also developed trainings and wrote numerous publications for educators. #Groundbreaker

Advancing peace requires a strong, wide, and active network.

Laura L. McKie, Assistant Director for Education, 1987–2001, planned, coordinated, and conducted educational activities at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. She began her career with the museum as a docent in 1969, and in 1971, she was hired as an Anthropology Education Specialist . #Groundbreaker

Claudine K. Brown began her long career with Smithsonian as the Director of the African American History Project, 1990–1995, developing a program plan for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Brown also served as Smithsonian’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities, 1991-1995. She returned to the Smithsonian in 2010 as Assistant Secretary for Education and Access, a position she held until her death in 2016. #Groundbreaker

Tricia Edwards, Interim Associate Director for Smithsonian Affiliations, spearheaded  Spark!Lab, an interdisciplinary space at the National Museum of American History where educators use art, science, and engineering to engage kids and families with hands-on invention.

Take a trip back to Sesame Street and the Smithsonian's ten year exhibition about the show in 1979.