A steampunk guide to the National Museum of American History

I’m a bad steampunk. I like pretty things with brass and wood, but I end up injuring myself when I try to build/sew/knit/glue things, with the end result usually only a mess. With the exceptions of berets, I don’t do hats very well even if I could afford them. Mostly, I like something because it’s pretty. And because ye-olde-timey moustaches kind of rock my socks, but that might be something entirely different.

If you don’t know what I’m on about, steampunk is something of a community built around an appreciation of the aesthetics of Victorian-era mechanical inventions and fantasy or speculative fiction influenced by 19th century scientific romances by the likes of Wells, Verne, and Twain. Yes, I do have friends. No, they’re not all on the Internet. No, they don’t all wear aviator goggles. Although, I wish they did; maybe that will be the price of admission for my next birthday party. In pop culture, steampunk is accessible through films like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Van Helsing, and Wild Wild West.

The National Museum of American History doesn’t seem like the first place you would look for Victoriana, but delight in invention wasn’t limited to those across the pond. And, as the former National Museum of History and Technology, we have quite the range of attractive and inventive artifacts which I know will inspire my next creation purchase daydream. I’ve compiled a list of my favorites around the museum, but we’d love to hear your thoughts. Inspiring creativity and invention, the real glue for the steampunk aesthete, is as much in our educational mission as teaching the War of 1812.

Left: Laboratory in Science in American Life, Flickr photo by lreed7649; Right: Vassar telescope, Flickr photo by session.

Our wee jaunt through the museum begins on the first floor center, where you’re faced with a choice: the John Bull locomotive or the Vassar telescope used by the first professional woman astronomer in America. I consider ad astra and all that an imperative, so continue past Maria Mitchell’s telescope to enter the Science & Innovation wing and the Science and American Life exhibition. Here you’ll find Ira Remsen’s laboratory at John Hopkins from the 1870s where he taught “pure science,” and Constantin Fahlberg discovered saccharine—the men fell out over the patent (oh, I do love the intrigue!). Fair warning though, the men are represented in models in the exhibit… and they talk. I find it strangely entertaining. 

Graphophone. Flickr photo by session.

There is also an attractive graphophone just past the lab. I’m quite taken with it; forget storing my recordings in MP3, I’m scaling to wax cylinder.

Now, head back past the John Bull to enter Lighting A Revolution. The amount of gears, gadgets, and general mechanization in this collection of curiosities make it worth a promenade. Of note, the elevator cage, Westinghouse engines and, close to my heart, a Tesla motor.

Before charging onwards and upwards, look at the artifact walls: they often change as we rotate objects on and off-displays. Check with an Information Desk to find the stereoscopes cart, where volunteers with hand held viewing machines help you see photographs in three dimensions!

Finally, while we Americans have a historically touchy relationship with tea, it wouldn’t be a proper end to this outing without a cuppa. Dear readers, a challenge: find as many teapots as you can in the museum. If you’re stuck try looking for colonists, households, and ceremonies.

Think I’m missing something? Post your comments below or share your photos with us on Flickr. (And many thanks to Flickr users lreed7649 and session for sharing their photos.)

Allison Tara Sundaram is an intern in the New Media program at the National Museum of American History.

Comments

[Tamahome Jenkins]

It's a shame that such grand culture is embodied in such terrible movies as Wild Wild West and Van Helsing.

[Lora]

As a fanatic of the Steampunk aesthetic myself, antiques and museums are a huge inspiration...the care and craftsmanship that have gone into the mechanisms of this era are astounding. I think another major part of the appeal for me is being able to tinker around and understand the principles of how these devices work, you can see how everything connects, where as the digital confounds me!

[Angela Hall]

Thanks for this overview. Really enjoy your writing style. I love the term steampunk though it's a new one for me. I'll have to investigate.

[Will]

The craftsmanship of that era is really amazing. The steampunk aesthetic of merging function and art is something we really miss in our day-to-day encounters with material culture. Cool blog.

[John Douglas]

Steampunk! LOL wonderful, never heard that one before . As a guy who has always loved the Victorian aesthetic himself and has dedicated a lot of his life to its promotion, I salute you and you blog. Great work to be found here: Thanks from KG

[Eric]

The first time I heard of steampunk was when I came across this awesome steampunk teapot (http://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/steampunk-teapot/). Very cool stuff. If I lived anywhere near the museum, I'd be there in a flash!

[Onur]

I saw that graphophone. That was really great. Thanks.

[Lanny Camden]

At my age I find the museum especially historical and technological the candy store of wonder. The national Museum of American history should be a requirement for all of our citizens.

America has lead the way in so many innovations that we cannot forget that we also need to set the example in ethics and morals so that our children visiting these places can take greater pride in being an American.

This is a great blog for the list of blogs to visit.

[Joana White]

That graphophone reminds me of the song "glommy sunday". :) And yes, you ain't a bad steampunk, I doubt it to be myself though! lol

[fulloyun]

It's a shame that such grand culture is embodied in such terrible movies as Wild Wild West and Van Helsing.

[vet]

Hi its' my first time to encounter the word Steampunk. My friend says Steampunk is often associated with cyberpunk. They have considerable influence on each other and share a similar fan base, but steampunk developed as a separate movement. Apart from time period and level of technology, the main difference is that steampunk settings tend to be less dystopian.