The Putnam Gallery

 Science Through Its Instruments

Harvard has been collecting scientific instruments for teaching and research since 1672. As researchers have created new fields and used new tools, we have continued acquiring the artifacts of their work. These objects show some of the ways that faculty and students have taught, studied, and extended science at Harvard. The history of science education, practice, and discovery at Harvard is on display at the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. We care for over 25,000 objects from a broad range of scientific disciplines. We invite you to come explore these instruments and their stories.