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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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Innovative

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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

Smurfs Hockey is my Schtick Sports Busy Beaver Button Museum
Grey is Beautiful Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Punky Brewster Entertainment Busy Beaver Button Museum
Women's Political Union Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Souvenir of White City Chicago Busy Beaver Button Museum
Uniontown Centennial Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
I.S.M.S. Annual Meeting 1896 Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Pet Owners Make Better Lovers Humorous Busy Beaver Button Museum
7-Up Follow the Un Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Swatch Red and Yellow Comet Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers Club Busy Beaver Button Museum
We're All Living With AIDS Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
California Diamond Jubilee Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Pan-American Exposition Monkeys Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Frank C. Bostock Surrounded by Animals Innovative Busy Beaver Button Museum
Pan A Merry-Can Souvenir 1901 Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Iffy Club Member Club Busy Beaver Button Museum
I Saw Wrangell Alaska Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Jane Byrne for Mayor '87 Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
H.W.P. Harold Washington Party Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
Golden Gate International Exposition Chrysler Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Rainier National Park 1922 Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Apple Pie Makes You Sterile Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
You Are Reading My Button Self Referential Busy Beaver Button Museum
Buzzcocks: A Different Kind of Tension Music Busy Beaver Button Museum
Sarah Bernhardt by Mucha Entertainment Busy Beaver Button Museum
Pike's Peak I Made It Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
North Babylon High School School Busy Beaver Button Museum
Buy Original Art Ice Breakers Busy Beaver Button Museum
Martin Luther King National Holiday March 1982 Event Busy Beaver Button Museum
Barney Beaver Beavers Busy Beaver Button Museum
NAACP 1947 Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
NAACP 1948 Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Carol Bouman Lyle Art Busy Beaver Button Museum
Jazz Showcase Chicago Chicago Busy Beaver Button Museum
Free Speech for High School Students Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
C & O Route Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Goodwill Fire Engine Company No. 5 Club Busy Beaver Button Museum
76 Nobody for President Political Busy Beaver Button Museum
I Love Lollipops Tootie I ♥ Buttons Busy Beaver Button Museum
No Wider War Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Don't Buy Marval Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
I am the Face of Pro-Choice America Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Dominion Regalia Advertising Busy Beaver Button Museum
Great Lapel Button Self Referential Busy Beaver Button Museum
Aragorn Entertainment Busy Beaver Button Museum
Free Huey Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Free Huey Panther Cause Busy Beaver Button Museum
Mickey Mouse Club Club Busy Beaver Button Museum
Warner's Egyption Mickey Mouse 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