Anesthesia. Chocolate chip cookies. The assembly line. Crash test dummies. What do all these things have in common? They are American innovations! In its 250-year history, the United States has seen countless inventions arise from the minds of people who have called the country home. This October, join Fairfax County Public Library as we celebrate this innovative spirit with programs, resources and more.
Events and Programs
American Innovations Scavenger Hunt! | Kings Park Library | All Month
Walk through the children's area of the library during October and locate 12 American innovations. Visit the Information Desk when finished and collect a prize!
STEAM Team - American Spirit and Invention - Morse Code | Burke Centre Library | Saturday, October 3
Learn about great American inventors, like Samuel Morse, the inventor of Morse code. Then learn strategies for practicing Morse code
Make An Automaton | John Marshall Library | Monday, October 5
Experiment with making crafts with mechanical movement, using a simple clothespin or cardboard to make an automaton.
Inventors from Burke | Pohick Regional Library | Wednesday, October 7
Hear about inventions associated with the Burke area from over the years, along with some general history of the patent system and U.S. Patent Office.
Make Your Own Toys | Martha Washington Library | Saturday, October 10
See the power of invention and innovation by making your own simple toys in this program for kids in grades K-6.
Make a Morse Code Bracelet | Thomas Jefferson Library | Monday, October 19
Learn about Morse code while you use it to create a personalized bracelet symbolizing your name or another word of your choice with different colored beads.
FREE to Watch at Home on WETA+
Invention Pathways
Inventors and inventions are all around us proving that we all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world. Explore the workshops, garages, laboratories and offices of accomplished inventors in the fields of materials, software, hardware, biotech and agriculture with an eye toward understanding the tools and traits of both successful invention and entrepreneurship.
Fascinating Fails
Following those often jaw-dropping (and sometimes hilarious fails) through time to today, host Maren Hunsberger asks: "What's next?". By talking to today's innovative young scientists, engineers, artists and other big thinkers, we see how the mistakes of the past are leading us into the science of tomorrow...and toward a better future.
Sovereign Innovations
Discover how Indigenous innovation and technology allows Indigenous communities to survive and thrive now and across the centuries. Host Cheyenne Bearfoot, will explore various native and Indigenous identities across the globe in order to unravel stereotypes that have diminished innovations made by Indigenous peoples.
How We Got To Now
A six-part documentary series that reveals the story behind the remarkable ideas that made modern life possible; the unsung heroes that brought them into the world, and the unexpected and bizarre consequences each of these innovations has triggered.
Make48
The series launches with an introduction to Make48 and the real-life challenges of taking a product from napkin design to store shelf. Teams are given the product challenge. With a whistle blow the 48-hour inventor competition begins.
Book Recommendations
Discover the stories behind some of America’s greatest innovations and inventions with books from our collection, selected by our team of librarians: