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USPTO Museum Open in Alexandria

Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at September 7, 2005 05:13 PM

USPTO Museum Open in Alexandria

The public is invited to visit the United States Patent and Trademark (USPTO) Museum to learn about America’s inventive spirit and marvel at the ingenuity of mankind. Today, U.S. innovation is one of our most treasured and envied assets. The USPTO works to record, share, and preserve this inventive spirit.

“The United States Patent and Trademark Office Museum showcases the innovation and creativity of Americans. We hope it will inspire a new generation of Americans to explore, create, and contribute to the prosperity of this great nation,” noted Under Secretary Jon Dudas.

Since the beginning of time, people have been developing better ways to do things, and for over 200 years the American patent and trademark systems have been there to protect and encourage innovation. Everyone benefits, and that story is told well in the opening exhibit, The Invention Machine: A Day in My Life.

The museum’s visitors will realize that they take advantage of inventions and rely on trademarks every day of their lives without ever stopping to think of their origins. Visitors will see how intellectual property is found in the routines they follow at the beginning of the day, in methods they use for travel, in medical innovations they rely upon for good health, and in the different ways they relax and play. The Invention Machine: A Day in My Life will run through January 2006.

The museum and gift shop are located in the atrium of the Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA, and easily accessible from the King Street and Eisenhower Avenue Metro stations. The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 5:00 p.m. Saturday; closed on Sundays and federal holidays. School groups are most welcome and encouraged to schedule a tour.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office Museum and Store were developed and are maintained by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation.

>> Directions to the museum
>> Schedule a museum tour

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