Event summary

February 15, 2025

10:00 a.m. ET - 5:30 p.m. ET

National Museum of American History

Wallace H. Coulter Plaza

1300 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20560

Add to Calendar2025-02-15 10:00:002025-02-15 10:00:00Game Changers: Invention, sports, and style Join us for a day of innovation exploration and learning at the Change Your Game / Cambia tu juego exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., February 15.Future inventors of all ages are invited to join us for interactive exhibits, educational activities, discussions, and more, featuring innovations and innovators of historical significance with a focus on sports and recreation. Learn more about featured exhibits and activities below. A full agenda of the day's scheduled events will be posted on this event page prior to the day of the event.Featured speakers for discussions include:Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith, two of the three Inventors of the JogBraKat Jungnickel, Lead Researcher of Politics of Patents (POP) and Professor in the Sociology Department, Goldsmiths, University of LondonEric Hintz, Acting Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian InstitutionElizabeth Dougherty, Northeast Regional Outreach Office Director, USPTOOther special guests include:Niesha Butler, Tech Entrepreneur, Sports Analyst, and Former WNBA AthleteLaKisha Greenwade, CEO of Wearable Tech Ventures and Artificial Intelligence InnovatorDr. Yajaira Sierra-Sastre, Materials Scientist, Educator, and Aspiring AstronautDr. Arlyne Simon, Biomedical Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur, and AuthorThe USPTO, Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center, and POP from Goldsmiths, University of London, are collaborating to host this event for inventors, students, teachers, and local industry and community-focused organizations. Together, we'll celebrate innovation and those who have fostered their inventive spirit to change sports, and the world, for the better.No registration is required. We will post more details on this webpage as they become available. Email northeast@uspto.gov if you have any questions about this event.Featured exhibits and activitiesRead about some of the exciting offerings we'll have during this event below. This section will be updated with more details as they become available and are subject to change. Please return to this page for the latest information. Try on historical sportswear inventions Try on pieces from a collection of reconstructed sportswear inventions from 1890s to 1940s, including patents for cycling, walking, mountain climbing, tobogganing, swimming, and flying clothing. All have convertible, reversible, multiple, combinable, and hidden elements. Have fun interacting with the sportswear. Convert them from one garment into another to see how they work – like skirts that turn into capes, skirts that turn into all-in-one jumpsuits, garments that fold up into satchels and raincoats, skirts that turn into trousers, garments with hidden pulley systems, and more.Take pictures in front of adventurous backdrops and get creative by inventing your own sportswear to solve problems and make activities more accessible.All costumes can be easily pulled over existing clothes. These activities are coordinated by Politics of Patents. Learn more about their mission and research. Roll with the Wheelwoman Chat with “Louise,” a character who rides around the museum on an antique 1898 Reliance Model D bicycle, speaking with visitors about her independent journey to Washington, D.C., and the freedom she feels after learning how to ride the bicycle. The Wheelwoman character does not represent a specific historical figure; rather, she is an everyday 1890s woman who has learned how to ride a bicycle. Unlike the high wheel bicycle, which had one large wheel in the front and a small wheel in the back, the groundbreaking safety bicycle she rides has two wheels of equal size and a drop frame that accommodates a woman's full skirt. Before the 1890s, the bicycle was a dangerous toy for aristocrats and adventurers. With the invention of the safety, everyone could ride. Get inventive at Spark!Lab Invent a shoe, build a stadium, design athletic clothing, and more at the Draper Spark!Lab.To prove that invention is more than just that “Aha!” moment, Draper Spark!Lab provides visitors with opportunities to explore the invention process and their own inventiveness through a variety of interdisciplinary, hands-on activities at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. In an engaging and exciting environment, Spark!Lab demonstrates the central role that invention plays in American history. Listen to an inventive story with Dr. Arlyne Simon Dr. Arlyne Simon, biomedical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author, will read from her picture book series "Abby Invents."The series features Abby, a young, creative girl who tackles everyday problems, like breaking crayons and folding laundry, with innovation. She also talks about the importance of protecting her inventions by applying for a receiving a patent! Playfully introduce your young inventor to STEM, intellectual property protection, and learning from our mistakes during this story time. National Museum of American History Wallace H. Coulter Plaza 1300 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20560 United States National Museum of American History Wallace H. Coulter Plaza 1300 Constitution Ave NW Washington, DC 20560 United States National Museum of American HistoryAmerica/New_Yorkpublic

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Game Changers: Invention, sports, and style

Join us for a day of innovation exploration and learning at the Change Your Game / Cambia tu juego exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., February 15.

Future inventors of all ages are invited to join us for interactive exhibits, educational activities, discussions, and more, featuring innovations and innovators of historical significance with a focus on sports and recreation. Learn more about featured exhibits and activities below. A full agenda of the day's scheduled events will be posted on this event page prior to the day of the event.

Featured speakers for discussions include:

Lisa Lindahl and Polly Smith, two of the three Inventors of the JogBra
Kat Jungnickel, Lead Researcher of Politics of Patents (POP) and Professor in the Sociology Department, Goldsmiths, University of London
Eric Hintz, Acting Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution
Elizabeth Dougherty, Northeast Regional Outreach Office Director, USPTO

Other special guests include:

Niesha Butler, Tech Entrepreneur, Sports Analyst, and Former WNBA Athlete
LaKisha Greenwade, CEO of Wearable Tech Ventures and Artificial Intelligence Innovator
Dr. Yajaira Sierra-Sastre, Materials Scientist, Educator, and Aspiring Astronaut
Dr. Arlyne Simon, Biomedical Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Author

The USPTO, Smithsonian Institution's Lemelson Center, and POP from Goldsmiths, University of London, are collaborating to host this event for inventors, students, teachers, and local industry and community-focused organizations. Together, we'll celebrate innovation and those who have fostered their inventive spirit to change sports, and the world, for the better.

No registration is required. We will post more details on this webpage as they become available.

Email northeast@uspto.gov if you have any questions about this event.

Featured exhibits and activities

Read about some of the exciting offerings we'll have during this event below.

This section will be updated with more details as they become available and are subject to change. Please return to this page for the latest information.

Try on historical sportswear inventions

Try on pieces from a collection of reconstructed sportswear inventions from 1890s to 1940s, including patents for cycling, walking, mountain climbing, tobogganing, swimming, and flying clothing. All have convertible, reversible, multiple, combinable, and hidden elements.

Have fun interacting with the sportswear. Convert them from one garment into another to see how they work – like skirts that turn into capes, skirts that turn into all-in-one jumpsuits, garments that fold up into satchels and raincoats, skirts that turn into trousers, garments with hidden pulley systems, and more.

Take pictures in front of adventurous backdrops and get creative by inventing your own sportswear to solve problems and make activities more accessible.

All costumes can be easily pulled over existing clothes.

These activities are coordinated by Politics of Patents. Learn more about their mission and research.

Roll with the Wheelwoman

Chat with “Louise,” a character who rides around the museum on an antique 1898 Reliance Model D bicycle, speaking with visitors about her independent journey to Washington, D.C., and the freedom she feels after learning how to ride the bicycle.

The Wheelwoman character does not represent a specific historical figure; rather, she is an everyday 1890s woman who has learned how to ride a bicycle. Unlike the high wheel bicycle, which had one large wheel in the front and a small wheel in the back, the groundbreaking safety bicycle she rides has two wheels of equal size and a drop frame that accommodates a woman's full skirt. Before the 1890s, the bicycle was a dangerous toy for aristocrats and adventurers. With the invention of the safety, everyone could ride.

Get inventive at Spark!Lab

Invent a shoe, build a stadium, design athletic clothing, and more at the Draper Spark!Lab.

To prove that invention is more than just that “Aha!” moment, Draper Spark!Lab provides visitors with opportunities to explore the invention process and their own inventiveness through a variety of interdisciplinary, hands-on activities at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. In an engaging and exciting environment, Spark!Lab demonstrates the central role that invention plays in American history.

Listen to an inventive story with Dr. Arlyne Simon

Dr. Arlyne Simon, biomedical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author, will read from her picture book series "Abby Invents."

The series features Abby, a young, creative girl who tackles everyday problems, like breaking crayons and folding laundry, with innovation. She also talks about the importance of protecting her inventions by applying for a receiving a patent!

Playfully introduce your young inventor to STEM, intellectual property protection, and learning from our mistakes during this story time.

Accessibility accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.