National Inventors' Day

National Inventors' Day, observed February 11th, celebrates inventors and the process of innovation, timed to coincide with the birthday of Thomas Edison, born February 11, 1847. Edison remains one of history's most prolific inventors, holding over a thousand U.S. patents across his lifetime for innovations including the practical incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and improvements to motion picture cameras, developed largely out of his research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, an early model for organized, team-based industrial research and development. The observance was officially proclaimed in the United States by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, following years of advocacy from inventor organizations who wanted a day to recognize the broader contributions of inventors, not just the most famous historical figures but also everyday innovators, engineers, and small inventors working on new ideas. The day is often used by patent offices, inventor associations, schools, and science museums to highlight the process of invention, encourage STEM education, and celebrate both historical breakthroughs and contemporary innovation. On National Inventors' Day, people celebrate by learning about influential inventors and their creations, visiting science museums, or encouraging young people's interest in engineering and problem-solving.