Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household

Closing August 13, 2023

Sunday August 13 will be the last day to view Gadgets Galore at the Mendocino County Museum. 

About the exhibit: 

Gadgets Galore! at Mendocino County Museum reveals hidden histories of everyday objects. Truly a family experience, you won’t want to miss the chance to explore this fun hands-on exhibit! 

Possers, stereoscopes, and graphophones? At one time, each of these gadgets was an invention – the latest and greatest item, and one everyone wanted to own. Uncover the histories of these strange objects and learn how their invention led to the gadgets that are integral to our lives today, through the traveling exhibition Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household, on display at Mendocino County Museum from April 1, 2023, to August 13, 2023. 

Various gadgets, both recognizable and strange, will be on display in Gadgets Galore!, illustrating how industrialization transformed every American household in the 19^th-century. The invention of mechanical processes and the discovery of electricity and steam power would impact day-to-day life around the world. Mass production, faster communication, and more widespread transportation systems combined to industrialize the American household by inspiring the invention of the gadgets we rely on today.

Some of the most fascinating gadgets on display are almost unrecognizable today. However, as becomes clear in Gadgets Galore! – and its scavenger-hunt style display, which encourages visitors to find the ancestors of many modern-day objects – each gadget we use today can be traced back to the inventions and technology from this period of industrialization.

In addition to widely known inventions, Mendocino County Museum will highlight 20^th century and contemporary local inventors, such as Ed Burton, Richard Jergenson, and more!

Educators will not want to miss sharing this engaging exhibit with their students. Group tours with a selection of hands-on activities will be available for the duration of the exhibit. Request a tour online or by calling (707) 234-6365. 

Exhibition Support

Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household is a traveling exhibition from Exhibit Envoy, a nonprofit, and Heather Farquhar. This exhibition is based on the initial iterations at the Hayward Area Historical Society and Los Altos History Museum.

Additional exhibit support provided to Mendocino County Museum by the Community Foundation of Mendocino County.