Arts & Entertainment  June 12, 2015

Smithsonian to highlight Fort Collins innovation scene in new exhibit

FORT COLLINS — The city of Fort Collins will be one of six cities highlighted in a new Smithsonian exhibit for its role in clean-energy innovation and sustainability.

The 3,500-square-foot exhibit, titled “Places of Invention,” opens at the National Museum of American History on July 1 and will remain open for at least five years.

The exhibit is aimed at looking at hot spots of invention around the country at different periods in history and examining how they came to be such at the time they did, as well as the people involved.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Ways to thank a caregiver

If you have a caregiver or know someone who has been serving as a primary caregiver, March 3rd is the day to reach out and show them how much they are valued!

In addition to Fort Collins in the 2010s, the exhibit looks at Hartford, Conn., in the late 1800s for its role in precision manufacturing; Hollywood, Calif., in the 1930s for giving birth to movies’ Golden Age; Medical Alley, Minn., in the 1950s for cardiac innovations; the Bronx, N.Y., in the 1970s for the birth of hip-hop; and Silicon Valley in the 1970s and 1980s for its role in the rise of the personal computer.

The exhibit was created by the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

“We wanted to show that there are contemporary places that aren’t Silicon Valley,” Lemelson Center communications manager Kate Wiley said of the decision to highlight Fort Collins’ present innovation scene. “We’re interested in seeing these stories evolve and where they go.”

Several local companies are highlighted within the Fort Collins portion of the exhibit, including Prieto Battery, VanDyne SuperTurbo and New Belgium Brewing. The exhibit also takes a look at clean-energy innovations that have been developed at Colorado State University and the collaborations that have taken place between the city, businesses and university.

“We’re thrilled that the Smithsonian is showcasing Fort Collins’ innovation and creativity to the country with its new Places of Invention exhibition,” Fort Collins’ city manager Darin Atteberry said in an email. “Fort Collins has a longstanding history of fostering innovation, and our efforts promoting clean energy and technology could have a significant impact on not only our community, but on the world. It’s both rewarding and encouraging to have such an esteemed organization as the Lemelson Center laud our city as one of America’s newest places of invention.”

In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum will showcase an interactive map with images and video highlighting innovative communities across the country and worldwide. The public, both in person at the exhibit and online, will be able to discuss case studies and contribute stories about invention in their own communities.

FORT COLLINS — The city of Fort Collins will be one of six cities highlighted in a new Smithsonian exhibit for its role in clean-energy innovation and sustainability.

The 3,500-square-foot exhibit, titled “Places of Invention,” opens at the National Museum of American History on July 1 and will remain open for at least five years.

The exhibit is aimed at looking at hot spots of invention around the country at different periods in history and examining how they came to be such at the time they did, as well as the people involved.

In addition to…

Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts