[3] The museum opened in August 2016 with the goal to "forge a connection between America's industrial past and the innovations of today by educating the public and inspiring the visionaries of tomorrow".

[6] The delay prompted a state grand jury investigation, whose 2014 report concluded the museum suffered from serious mismanagement and wasted public and private funds.

[8] Within this exhibit includes an interactive display of Bethlehem Steel's history of industry dominance to engage the viewers passing by.

[5] This exhibit serves to present insight into the daily lives of workers part of Bethlehem Steel which employed 31,000 people at peak.

Visitors are able to experience the work done by workers by holding a 20-pound bobbin tray that children carried for hours at the silk factories.

[10] In May 2017, the museum opened a new exhibit, "Making America's Pastime", which focused on the production of Major League Baseball equipment.

[13] Within the section involving the 1876 World's Fair, visitors are welcomed by artifacts and machines that were displayed at the Centennial International Exposition.

Amy Hollander, executive director of the museum stated in reference to the artifacts, "Among them are some that are the first made, the longest operating or the last produced.

[13] The Machinery Hall holds 21 artifacts loaned by the Smithsonian Institution which were previously on display at the National Museum of American History.

[4] In addition to the steam engine, the Machinery Hall also boasts a Milwaukee's Pawling & Harnischfeger Co. Crane and an H-beam from Bethlehem Steel.

[10] Other artifacts displayed in this hall include original items used by workers such as punch cards, hard hats, whistles, welfare baskets, and safety reports.

[10] Glenn Koehler, NMIH's marketing and outreach coordinator[14] believes that the Propane Gallery is the most popular interactive exhibit.

[8] Mechanical and digital characteristics such as moving floor boards and aerial video give the viewers a very well rounded, realistic approach to a hot air balloon ride.