It’s officially Women’s History Month which gives everyone a great excuse to talk about amazing women, but we should actually do that all the time.
In history class, we often learn about inventions created by men, but I bet you didn’t know some of these things we use every single day were created by women.
So, here are just eight things invented by eight incredible women.
The Aquarium by Jeanne Villepreux-Power
I never considered that something like an aquarium as an invention, but we owe Jeanne Villepreux-Power a big thank you for our favorite field trips. Villepreux-Power was a French marine biologist, and because she was the first to create an aquarium in 1832, she is often referred to as the “Mother of Aquariophily.”
The Ice Cream Maker by Nancy Johnson
Before freezers were invented, Nancy Johnson created an ice cream freezing machine in 1843. It became the standard for ice cream for many years, and Johnson was the first to receive a United States Patent for her invention.
The Dishwasher By Josephine Cochrane
It’s hard to imagine a life before dishwashers, but thanks to Josephine Cochrane, we don’t have to. It took Cochrane just 30 minutes to draft her concept for the “dish washing machine.” She received a patent in 1886 and our dishes have been kept clean ever since.
The Life Raft by Maria Beasley
Maria Beasley was an American entrepreneur who is most known for her patented lifeboat. The boat contained collapsable floats and airtight containers.
Incredibly fun fact: Beasley’s lifeboats were used on the Titanic and saved over 700 lives.
The Car Heater by Margaret A. Wilcox
We all need to seriously thank Margaret A. Wilcox. She was an American mechanical engineer. Wilcox invented a way to channel heat through a car in 1893, thus keeping us all warm and cozy while on the go.
The First Monopoly Game by Elizabeth Magie
We owe all our family game nights to Elizabeth Magie. She created “The Landlord’s Game” in 1904 originally to show the negative side of capitalism. Years later, the Parker Brothers patented an almost identical game that we now know as Monopoly.
The Coffee Filter by Melitta Bentz
Us college girls run on coffee, but we wouldn’t be able to run at all without Melitta Bentz. She was a German entrepreneur who created the coffee filter brewing system in 1908. There is now a company Bentz started that employs over 4000 people.
Beer by ancient women of Sumer and Mesopotamia
All the way back in 4000 BC, when beer was discovered, only women were allowed to drink and brew it in Mesopotamia and Sumer. There, beer was called “the divine drink.” College students across the world once again, have women to thank.
These are only a few of the hundreds of inventions created by women. History often overlooks these women, but it’s time to finally give them the spotlight they deserve.
During Women’s History Month, remember to think of these women and all the women around the world that have made our lives so much better.