The History of the Can: From Tinplate Revolution to Modern Marvel Lecture
Saturday, September 19, 2026 · 1:00 PM EDT · National Museum of Industrial History · Bethlehem, PA
Get more events like this
Free daily picks for live events around Bethlehem. No account needed.
Unsubscribe any time.
About this event
Join CanMuseum.com co-founder Michael Burns for a lively journey through one of industry’s most overlooked innovations. From Napoleon’s prize that launched the tin can, to the surprising 48-year wait for a can opener, the 1935 debut of the beer can, and the rise (and environmental rethink) of the pull-tab, this talk traces how the can reshaped food, war, and everyday life. Along the way we’ll look at the evolution of can-making—from hand-soldered 3-piece steel and cone tops to today’s sleek aluminum—and share stories from the free online archive that keeps this industrial history alive.
Description from nmih.org