Chain Reactions, Laughs, and Invention Await at ECHO

Rube Goldberg™: The World of Hilarious Invention!
Now Open Through September 7, 2025
Free with Admission or ECHO Membership

Photo courtesy of ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

Step into a world where imagination runs wild, everyday objects come to life, and solving simple problems takes a delightfully complicated turn.

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, invites guests of all ages to explore Rube Goldberg™: The World of Hilarious Invention!, a vibrant, interactive exhibit open now through September 7, 2025.

Celebrating the genius of Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg — better known as Rube Goldberg — this exhibit honors the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist, cartoonist, engineer, and inventor who turned problem-solving into an art form.

Known for his wacky illustrations of over-engineered contraptions that complete simple tasks in the most convoluted (and comical) ways possible, Rube’s work has inspired generations of makers, dreamers, and doers.

This Isn’t Just Play — It’s the Joy of Inventive Thinking

Created by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the heirs of Rube Goldberg, the exhibit showcases authentic 3D recreations of Rube’s iconic contraptions, inspired directly by his original illustrations.

Visitors won’t just look — they’ll tinker, pull, draw, invent, and reset.

Build Wall Machines – Move balls, ramps, and levers to set off your own chain reactions and discover how each part works together.
Design Cartoons in the Art Studio – Try your hand at Rube’s sketching style, then spin your masterpiece in the Revolvometer.
Trigger the Music Machine – Pull ropes to start an animated musical adventure powered by a symphony of cause and effect.
Pose in the “Self-Operating Napkin”® – Strike a pose inside one of Rube’s most famous inventions — the perfect photo op!

Original illustrations by Ed Steckley from the award-winning children’s book Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day are also on display, alongside global videos of chain-reaction machines that show just how far Rube’s legacy has reached.

More Than Just Funny Machines

Hands-on-learning at the Rube Goldberg exhibit at the Echo Center in Burlington, Vermont. — Photo courtesy of ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

At its heart, this exhibit is about more than zany gadgets — it’s about understanding how things work, the creative process, and the value of persistence.

From coding concepts to fishing strategies, chain reactions are everywhere in life. Visitors are invited to fail forward, get messy, and experience firsthand how invention often begins with humor, curiosity, and a whole lot of trial and error.

“You have to have courage to be a creator.” – Rube Goldberg

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or brand new to Rube’s whimsical world, Rube Goldberg™: The World of Hilarious Invention! is a hands-on, laughter-filled invitation to explore storytelling, science, and the joyful absurdity of human creativity.

Exhibit Details:
📅 Open through September 7, 2025
🎟️ Free with ECHO admission or ECHO membership
📍 ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain | echovermont.org