(sites are listed alphabetically)

  • Black Inventors A-Z - This About link features a database list of African American patent holders and individual biographies of African American inventors.
  • Built in America - This site houses the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) and the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) collections of the Library of Congress online. Whether you are looking for inventions
    are architectural innovation, this site has lots to offer.
  • Distinguished Women (inventors) of Past and Present - Below the recommended books section of this site you will find several women listed with links that describe their contributions to science and society.
  • DMOZ Open Directory Project - The database features numerous inventor links.
  • Edison National Historic Site - WWW presence of Edison's home, covering everything from Edison's life and education to actual photos and patent lists. Be sure to check out the link on Edison's invention process, which gives young inventors insight into the working genius of this great inventor.
  • Einstein - The American Museum of Natural History presents this site based on their current exhibit which lasts through August 2003. For an even more in-depth view of the man's life and achievements, be sure to visit A. Einstein: Image and Impact.
  • Exploring Leonardo - The Boston Museum of Science hosts this well-crafted site on the many facets of da Vinci's genius; I especially like the Inventor's Workshop which gets into close-ups on gadgets and machines as well as classroom activities. Definitely worth your consideration.
  • Famous Inventions A-Z - This About link features a database list of many common day items and describes who invented them and the time era in which they were invented.
  • Famous Inventors A - Z - About.com has put together this impressive collection of online resources about hundreds of inventors, listed alphabetically or by nation. Each link not only offers an overview of an inventor, but offers additional online resources for further research.
  • Gizmo Highway - Somewhat limited in scope, this site does include interesting information about a variety of appliances, electronic items, and vehicles.
  • The Great Idea Finder - Here's a great site for learning more about creative ideas that are being shared by innovators around the world. There's hot products, inventors at work, facts and myths, an idea showcase and even a
    resource center for students who want to dig deeper.
  • The History of Invention - Awesome timeline of very practical inventions that have effected our lives over the centuries: plywood, swimming pools, vaccinations, electric guitar, computer mouse, space shuttle, the v-chip and so much more - and the dates and sequence of some of these makes you look twice!
  • How Stuff Works - This site does not focus on inventors, but inventors are mentioned in the vivid descriptions of "how stuff works" and they do mean all kinds of stuff! Topics include: Computer Stuff, Auto Stuff, Electronics Stuff, Science Stuff, Home Stuff, Entertainment Stuff, Money Stuff, Travel Stuff, and People Stuff. This is a fun site that all ages will enjoy.
  • Inventing Modern America: From the Microwave to the Mouse - This site profiles thirty-five inventors and their creation of everyday objects, exploring the life and work of five of these scientists. Choose one of the inventors' qualities: courage, insight, know-how, vision, and perseverance, and learn more about them.
  • Inventor Hall of Fame - Search the Hall of Fame inductees library, or "browse information by inventor, invention, induction date, and by decade."
  • The Inventor's Museum - This site is set up like a Web directory with categories that are common themes students use for reading up on inventors and inventions. Categories include time periods, sciences and demographic groups. There are also games and an online quiz.
  • The Leonardo Museum in Vinci - "Located in the medieval Castello Guidi (11-12 cen.), the Leonardo Museum dominates the small city of Vinci." Explore the museum online exhibits and get a feel for the museum itself since there are floor plans of the actual museum you can look through. Leonardo De Vinci's inventions are clearly the highlight of the museum and the site.
  • Lemelson MIT: Inventor of the Week - The Inventor Archive is now organized alphabetically by inventors' last names. Student can also search inventors by browsing their inventors.
  • The National Inventors Hall of Fame - This is the online presence of the actual Hall, containing "exhibits and presentations which allow visitors to experience the excitement of discovery, creativity, and imagination." It can be viewed by the name of the invention itself or by the inventor's name alphabetically or chronologically.
  • PBS - Forgotten Inventors - This PBS site features an interactive technology timeline, a link to forgotten inventors, and a lot of information about the telephone.
  • Smithsonian: Inventors and Innovation - These limited high quality links on the topic of inventing. The table of links to inventions and inventors offers a succinct look at some prominent people and machines of the last 150 years, including African American Inventors, Women Inventors of the 20th Century and Edison's Timeline of Invention.
  • Spotlight Biograpy - This site features inventor biographies posted by the Smithsonian.
  • Wacky Patent of the Month - Unusual and amazing contraptions featured every month along with information on patents and invention links - sponsored by a law office so there's a uniquely legal point of view.
  • The World of Benjamin Franklin - Presented by the esteemed Franklin Institute, this online exhibit takes the viewer through a tour of BF's life and accomplishments; hey - if you're going to talk inventors you might as well talk about the best!
  • Zoom Inventors and Inventions - Enchanted Learning touts this easy to use A - Z listing of inventors, including a number of sub-categories by era, nation and high-interest topic such as communication, transportation and undersea inventions.
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Farr-Out Links to Learning™
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Updated 01/2009