Cooper Hewitt was founded in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt and is housed in the former Carnegie Mansion on Fifth Avenue. As part of the Smithsonian, it combines collection research with exhibitions, education, and public programs.
The collection includes more than 215,000 design objects, from furniture and product design to works on paper, textiles, wallcoverings, and digital material. Interactive tools in the galleries invite visitors to explore the collection and try aspects of the design process, while the museum's library supports deeper research.
