The Great American Innovation Contest

Inspired by President George Washington's 1790 signing of the nation's first patent law, the contest honors the inventors, builders, and dreamers who have powered 250 years of American progress.

Every state is represented by one groundbreaking innovation that captures its unique contribution to America's story. Use the map to explore each state's greatest invention and vote for your favorite below.

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NJ

The Light Bulb

Thomas Edison

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Top 10 Leaderboard

  1. 1 Texas Integrated Circuit 22 votes
  2. 2 North Carolina Airplane 20 votes
  3. 3 Pennsylvania Lightning Rod 17 votes
  4. 4 Ohio Cash Register 13 votes
  5. 5 New York Air Conditioning 11 votes
  6. 5 Rhode Island American Industrial Revolution 11 votes
  7. 7 Alabama Saturn V Rocket 10 votes
  8. 8 California The Microchip 9 votes
  9. 9 Michigan Automobile Assembly Line 8 votes
  10. 10 Iowa Gas-Powered Tractor 7 votes