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Welcome!

Thank you for visiting the online Button Museum. Our mission is to share as much American history as possible through pin-back buttons. One may think that buttons are a very niche collection but they cover a wide range of cultural history. From large world events to the most obscure, buttons capture a people’s view of history that is expressed through design and messaging. 

The Museum has a main collection that continues to grow. With over 9,000 buttons (a fraction of our collection) completely catalogued, we even made it to the Guiness Book of World Records!

You can also browse our Special Exhibits section, which are images of buttons from other collections.

You are welcome to visit the physical museum M-F 10-4. For groups of more than 6, please contact us. 

We hope you visit, get inspired, feel nostalgic, and learn a thing or two about American history. 

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I ♥ Buttons

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Music

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Political

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School

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Self Referential

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Smileys

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Ice Breakers

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Sports

Recent additions

McLaughlin Brothers Horse Importers Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
I'm a Husky Sports Busy Beaver Button Museum
Pennies Don't Come From Heaven Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Rally Day Horns Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Ricordo de la Festa Nazionale Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Swift's Golden Neck Layer Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Nuke the Whales Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Fight Racism Overturn Bakke Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
McGovern Our Next President Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Downer's Grove Centennial Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Paint Your Wagon Salute Entertainment Busy Beaver Button Museum
My Dog's Better Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Kalimera Smileys Busy Beaver Button Museum
Dakota States Society Club Busy Beaver Button Company
No, No, a 1,000 Times No Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Willie Mae Reid for Mayor Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Air Kontrol Filters Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Michael and Kitty Dukakis 1988 Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Chicken Little Was Right Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Ted Kennedy Turn Right at the Bridge Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Support Your Local Poet Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Big Mac Attack
Ask Me About My Teeny Beeper Ask Me Busy Beaver Button Museum
McGovern Eagleton '72 Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Bicentennial '76 Event Busy Beaver Button Company
Doctor Who at MOMI Entertainment Busy Beaver Button Museum
Wesleyan Taft Day Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
VBS Rainbow Club Busy Beaver Button Museum
Boutelle in '68 Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Barry Commoner Citizens Party Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Come Fly a Kite Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
High Admiral Cigarettes Serenade Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
White House Ace of Spades Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Millard Fillmore Peace At Any Price Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Anarchy SRAF Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Operation Osprey Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
McG & Sarge Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Kiss My Whip Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Linda Ronstadt for First Old Lady Music Busy Beaver Button Museum
Free Karl October 27 Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Harold Washington Our Next Mayor Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Congressman Fithian Telephone Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
John Kurtz Neon Orange Cat Art Busy Beaver Button Museum
John Kurtz Dark Orange Cat Art Busy Beaver Button Museum
John Kurtz Purple Cat Art Busy Beaver Button Museum
I Saved a Deer for Missouri Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Richard M. Nixon for President with Ribbon and Fob Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Aurora Follow the Foxes Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Disk Too Shall Pass Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Wieboldt's Cinnamon Bear TV Club Club Busy Beaver Button Museum

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The Button Museum
3407 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

The physical museum is open. For groups of more than 6, please contact us. Looking forward to seeing you!

Main navigation

  • Collection
    • By Category
    • By Decade
  • Special Exhibits
    • Fan Museum
  • Learn
    • Button History
    • Manufacturers
    • Acronyms
    • Blog
    • Resources
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Donate Buttons
  • About Us
    • About
    • Button Power
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Events
    • Make Your Own Button History