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All the United States Washington Bellingham SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

An electrifying collection of gadgets and literature from the 16th through 20th centuries.

Bellingham, Washington

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elaine
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The MegaZapper.   SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention.
The telephone gallery.   SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention.
The Marconi Room.   SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention.
Edison’s first working light bulb design   MikeInSanFrancisco / Atlas Obscura User
2021-07   MikeInSanFrancisco / Atlas Obscura User
Early wireless telephone.   MikeInSanFrancisco / Atlas Obscura User
The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention.   Robert Ashworth
The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention.   Sparkmuseumbellingham
Titanic radio room recreation   MikeInSanFrancisco / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This museum is packed with gadgets from the early days of scientific electrical experiments. The various pieces of historic equipment date from the 16th through 20th centuries, providing a timeline of the electrical innovations that shaped human history.

What began as one man’s personal collection of old radio paraphernalia grew into what’s now the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention. Now the museum contains far more than hundreds of antique radios, boasting treasures like rare books and papers by the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Galileo, and William Gilbert.

The space is well set up for older children and adults, and there are plenty of neat things to see. The museum houses one of the United States’ largest collections of 19th-century electromagnetic apparatus, as well as multiple lamps from Thomas Edison’s laboratory.

But, these aren’t the only highlights: the museum’s MegaZapper, a Tesla coil, also puts on an electrifying show. For those looking to get a bit more hands-on, there’s even a Theremin visitors can play.

Related Tags

Museums Electricity Museums And Collections Technology Radio Television

Know Before You Go

Allow about 90 minutes for your visit.

Community Contributors

Added By

elaine

Edited By

erjeffery, johnj, MikeInSanFrancisco, Kerry Wolfe

  • erjeffery
  • johnj
  • MikeInSanFrancisco
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

June 14, 2018

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  • Museum cofounder John jenkins
SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention
1312 Bay St
Bellingham, Washington
United States
48.751327, -122.48032
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