Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks explores the origins of fireworks and the science behind them—from the way they are made, designed, and tested, to how they are sold and ultimately launched into the sky. This sparkling new exhibition is our contribution to America’s nationwide celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Select digitized items from the exhibition, Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks, on view in our Hach Gallery from April 10, 2026- July 31, 2027.
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Red Fuse
- 2013
This work, titled Red Fuse is at the intersection of fine art and fireworks. It was made by the contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, best known for his large-scale explosion events that use pyrotechnics as an artistic…
- Artist Cai, Guoqiang, 1957-
- Subject Gunpowder, Cai Guo-Qiang, Art, Abstract, Fireworks
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46 items
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13 items
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27 items
Istituzioni di pirotecnia: per istruzione di coloro che vogliono apprendere a lavorare i Fochi d'Artifizio
- Institutions of Pyrotechnics: for the education of those wanting to learn the making of Fireworks
- 1819
- Author Calà Ossorio, Marcello
- Engraver Alfano, G. (Gaetano)
- Subject Fireworks, Calà Ossorio, Marcello, Alfano, G. (Gaetano), Fireworks industry
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22 items
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45 items
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262 items
La pyrotechnie de Hanzelet
- Lorrain ou sont représentés les plus rares et plus apprevuez secrets des machines et des feux artificiels. Propres pour assiéger battre surprendre et deffendre toutes places
- 1630
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19 items
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322 items
The Mysteries of Nature and Art
- In Foure Severall Parts: The first of Water works, The second of Fire works, The third of Drawing, Washing, Limming, Painting and Engraving, The fourth of sundry Experiments
- 1635
- Author Bate, John
- Printer Harper, Thomas, -1656
- Subject Bate, John, Fireworks, Waterworks, Science--Experiments, Metallurgy, Engraving, Art--Technique, Machinery
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15 items
Essay sur les feux d'artifice pour le spectacle et pour la guerre
- Essay on fireworks for spectacle and for war
- 1745
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40 items
The Art of Making Fireworks with Safety and Ease
- 1830
Pamphlet titled The Art of Making Fireworks with Safety and Ease, published in 1830 by Turner & Fisher. The pamphlet outlines methods for creating various kinds of fireworks and describes how to mix and prepare the…
- Publisher Turner & Fisher
- Subject Fireworks, Gunpowder, pyrote
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588 items
Kunst Buch von allerhandt rahren undt schönen inventionen so wohl in der Feuerwerckerey Kunst als auch in der Büchsenmeisterey zusammen
- 1671
A manuscript work from Andreas Räbel, a 17th-century pyrotechnician, containing formulas and recipes for the creation of fireworks, explosives, rockets, detonators, flares, bombs, and other armament. The recipes call…
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353 items
De la Pirotechnia
- 1540
A first edition, Italian work considered to be the earliest printed book on metallurgy published in Europe. The work was written in Venice by Vannoccio Biringuccio (c. 1480 – c. 1539), an Italian metallurgist of Siena,…
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28 items
Elémens de Pyrotechnie
- Elements of Pyrotechnics
- 1811
Written originally as a technical manual, this volume provides an historical account of the art and science of fireworks, with sections on materials, the manufacture of unit fireworks and display pieces, aquatic and…
- Author Ruggieri, Claude-Fortuné
- Subject Balloons, Military fireworks, Fireworks
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194 items
Vollenkommene Unterweisung, wie Raketen, Feuer- Wasser- Sturm-Kugeln, Granaten, Pech-Sturm-Kräntze, und allerhand Lust und Ernsthaffte Feuer-wercke zubereiten
- Praxis Artolloriae Pyrotechnicae
- Complete Instruction on the Making of Rockets, Fire-, Water- and Storm-Bullets, Grenades, Pitch- and Storm-Wreaths and Every Kind of Delightful and Serious Fireworks
- 1660
- Publisher Schwänder, Johann Georg
- Subject Ordnance, Explosives, Artillery
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24 items
Artis Magnae Artilleriae
- The Great Art of Artillery
- 1650
Kazimierz Siemienowicz's treatise was used for over a century as a basic manual on artillery, rocketry, and pyrotechnics. It was originally published in Latin (1650) and was translated into French (1651), German (1676),…
- Author Siemienowicz, Kazimierz, -1651?
- Publisher Jansson, Jan, 1588-1664
- Subject Rocketry, Gunpowder, Ordnance, Artillery, Fireworks, Weights and measures
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Chemcraft Chemical Outfit No. 1
- 1917
This is one of Porter Chemical Company's first Chemcraft sets. In the early 20th century, companies like the Porter Chemical Company and A.C. Gilbert began to manufacture and sell chemistry laboratories and kits.…
- Manufacturer Porter Chemical Company
- Subject Chemistry sets, Porter Chemical Company
