The Temple of Invention AR Experience

Visit SAAM and experience the museum’s free and new AR experience, “The Temple of Invention”, now available to visitors from April 18 through May 16, 2024.

Before it was an art museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s historical building showcased ingenuity through the display of thousands of patent models. Known as a “temple of invention,” it was a place for ideas and exploration, creativity and change.

Through this AR game, visitors will meet some of the fascinating people—including inventors, soldiers, poets, artists, and architects—who walked the halls, and experience key moments such as Clara Barton tending to wounded Civil War soldiers, President Abraham Lincoln’s raucous second inaugural ball, and a disastrous fire in 1877 that destroyed thousands of patent models.

Recommended for families and elementary school-age children, collect cogs, restore the heart of the temple, and see how this building is still a place where invention and innovation are celebrated.

Registration is encouraged; walk-ins welcome on a limited basis. A government ID (ages 18+) is required to reserve a device. Registrants must note the number of requested devices on the reservation form.