Celebrating 125 Years of Innovation

As the United States of America celebrates 250 years since its founding, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is celebrating its first 125 years of advancing American innovation.

For fully half the nation’s history, NIST’s scientists, engineers and other experts have been working with industry, academia and other government agencies to make America safer, healthier and more prosperous.

This year, we plan to celebrate our incredible history by highlighting our impact and offering opportunities for you to learn more about our work.

Through our website, social media and events, we will share with you how NIST has shaped science, industry and everyday life. We hope you’ll take the time to get to know the extraordinary people who have dedicated themselves to making sure NIST’s work promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. 

We will also highlight how NIST is shaping the next 125 years through our focus on critical and emerging technologies in quantum science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and more.

• 125 years: A small sampling of our 125 years of our accomplishments are highlighted in this timeline.
• NISTory: From pigeon pilots to the curveball, NIST's rich research legacy includes moments both impactful and fun. Check out some of our favorite stories in video form.
• Taking Measure blog: From learning how a NIST engineer helped create lifesaving CPR to our roles in making planes, trains and automobiles safer, learn more about our history via blog posts.
• NIST in Focus: Want to dig deeper into topics like atomic clocks, our history of life-saving fire research or how we measure things? Check out all of NIST's microsites.

Anniversary Events

Forthcoming.