Cooper Hewitt Connector for AI agents.

22 live capabilities

Research design history and museum collections with precise metadata.

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AI Agent

Why people use Cooper Hewitt

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Research

This Connector puts the entire Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum archive at your fingertips. Your agent pulls the metadata, images, and color schemes into your chat, letting you focus on the actual design work.

What Vinkius changes

You get instant, accurate access to a massive design archive without leaving your workspace.

Use it from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or another AI client you already have.

One account · 5,900+ Connectors

Real-world use case 01

Finding Bauhaus inspiration

A designer asks for Bauhaus objects with images to start a mood board.
Real-world use case 02

Academic research on exhibitions

A student uses get_exhibition_info to track how a specific object was displayed over decades to write a thesis on industrial design.
Real-world use case 03

Color research for branding

A product designer pulls a color palette from a 1920s textile using get_object_colors to influence a new brand identity.

Complete set · 22capabilities

The complete Cooper Hewitt capability set.

These are the exact actions your AI can choose when you ask it to work with Cooper Hewitt.

Capability set01 / 06

01—04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

01 Capability
Get exhibition info
Get full details on a specific museum exhibition. This helps you understand the context and theme of a curated collection.
02 Capability
Get exhibition objects
See which items are featured in a particular exhibition. Use this to see specific pieces within a curated show.
03 Capability
Get object colors
Pull the specific color palette for a design object. This is useful for creating accurate mood boards from historical items.
04 Capability
Spec formats
Check the valid API response formats. Use this to understand the structure of the data returned by the museum.

Capability set02 / 06

05—08

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

05 Capability
Get object exhibitions
Find out which shows have featured a specific object. This helps you track the history of a particular design piece.
06 Capability
Get object images
Retrieve high-quality images of a specific design. Use this to get visual assets directly into your workflow.
07 Capability
Get object info
Get detailed metadata and descriptions for a museum object. This provides deep context on materials, dates, and creators.
08 Capability
Get object participants
Identify the people who created or were involved with an object. This helps you research the human history behind the design.

Capability set03 / 06

09—12

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

09 Capability
Get objects on display
See a list of items currently shown in the physical museum. This is great for planning visits or checking current highlights.
10 Capability
Get person images
Get images of specific people associated with the collection. Use this to visualize the historical figures you are researching.
11 Capability
Get person info
Retrieve detailed biographical info for people in the collection. This provides background on the artists and designers.
12 Capability
Get person objects
List all objects associated with a specific person. This helps you see the full body of work for a historical figure.

Capability set04 / 06

13—16

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

13 Capability
Get random object
Pull a random item from the archive for inspiration. Use this to break through creative blocks with unexpected designs.
14 Capability
List exhibitions
Get a full list of all museum exhibitions. This helps you browse the history of the museum's curated shows.
15 Capability
List rooms
See a list of all rooms across different museum locations. Use this to understand the physical layout of the gallery.
16 Capability
List sites
List all the different physical museum locations. This provides a clear view of the museum's global presence.

Capability set05 / 06

17—19

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

17 Capability
Search collection
Search the entire archive for any keywords or themes. Use this to find broad categories of design history.
18 Capability
Search objects faceted
Perform a filtered search for objects with specific categories. This allows for precise filtering by time period or material.
19 Capability
Search objects
Search specifically for physical objects in the collection. Use this to find specific items when you know what you're looking for.

Capability set06 / 06

20—22

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 22 available through Cooper Hewitt.

20 Capability
Spec methods
See a list of all available API response methods. This helps you understand the full range of actions your agent can take.
21 Capability
Test echo
Use a testing method to echo back your parameters. This ensures your connection to the museum archive is working correctly.
22 Capability
Test error
Trigger a test error from the API. Use this to verify your error handling logic within your AI client.

Set up in minutes

One URL. Then ask Cooper Hewitt to work.

Claude and ChatGPT only need the Connector URL. Copy it once, add it in settings, and use Cooper Hewitt from the conversation.

Choose your client

Live preview

Advanced clients IDE · CLI

Claude · Web + desktop

Official guide ↗

Connector URL · ready to paste

Streamable HTTP

https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp

Step 01

Open Connectors

In Claude Web or Claude Desktop, open Settings and choose Connectors.
Step 02

Add the URL

Choose Add custom connector, name it Cooper Hewitt, and paste the URL above.
Step 03

Turn it on in chat

Select +, open Connectors, and enable Cooper Hewitt for the conversation.

ChatGPT · Web + desktop

Official guide ↗

Connector URL · ready to paste

Streamable HTTP

https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp

Step 01

Open MCP settings

On desktop, open Settings and MCP servers. On web, open your workspace app or connector settings.
Step 02

Add the URL

Choose Add server with Streamable HTTP, or create a custom MCP app, then paste the Cooper Hewitt URL.
Step 03

Save and start

Save the connection and enable Cooper Hewitt in your conversation. Desktop may ask you to restart once.

Cursor · IDE configuration

Official guide ↗

Advanced setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cooper-hewitt": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 01

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"
Step 02

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens
Step 03

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new Connector
Step 04

Start using Cooper Hewitt

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using Cooper Hewitt, help me...". 22 tools available

VS Code Copilot · IDE configuration

Official guide ↗

Advanced setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cooper-hewitt": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 01

Create MCP config

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root
Step 02

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above
Step 03

Enable Agent mode

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown
Step 04

Start using Cooper Hewitt

Ask Copilot: "Using Cooper Hewitt, help me...". 22 tools available

Windsurf · IDE configuration

Official guide ↗

Advanced setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cooper-hewitt": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 01

Open MCP Settings

Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
Step 02

Add the server

Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
Step 03

Save and reload

Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
Step 04

Start using Cooper Hewitt

Open Cascade and ask: "Using Cooper Hewitt, help me...". 22 tools available

Cline · IDE configuration

Official guide ↗

Advanced setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cooper-hewitt": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 01

Open Cline MCP Settings

Click the Connectors icon in the Cline sidebar panel
Step 02

Add remote server

Click "Add Connector" and paste the configuration above
Step 03

Enable the server

Toggle the server switch to ON
Step 04

Start using Cooper Hewitt

Ask Cline: "Using Cooper Hewitt, help me...". 22 tools available

Claude Code · Terminal command

Official guide ↗

Advanced setup

claude mcp add cooper-hewitt --transport http "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6XIz5V7kwl6Z78DrijB4o0fHN6PcOgFeaCt4dj8i/mcp"

Step 01

Install Claude Code

Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code if not already installed
Step 02

Add the Connector

Run the command above in your terminal
Step 03

Verify the connection

Run claude mcp to list connected servers, or type /mcp inside a session
Step 04

Start using Cooper Hewitt

Ask Claude: "Using Cooper Hewitt, show me...". 22 tools are ready

Where the request belongs

Work Cooper Hewitt can move forward.

Built around the request

Designers who need historical context, researchers digging into industrial history, and students who need precise data on design movements.

01

Creative Director

Finds unique historical inspiration and pulls color palettes for new brand identities on Tuesday afternoons.

02

Design Historian

Extracts precise metadata and exhibition histories for academic papers and museum archives.

03

Product Designer

Researches material history and historical furniture styles to inform new product development.

Build the capability set

Each Connector adds new actions and data without changing how you work.

Browse Connectors

01 6 capabilities

Harvard Art Museums

Search museum collections. audit art objects, artists, and exhibitions via AI.

02 4 capabilities

Met Museum

Explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection—search for artworks, list departments, and retrieve detailed object metadata and images.

03 9 capabilities

Cleveland Museum of Art

Explore the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. search artworks, creators, and exhibitions via Open Access API.

04 3 capabilities

Smithsonian Open Access

Explore millions of museum records, images, and digital assets from the Smithsonian Institution's vast collections.

05 8 capabilities

Rijksmuseum

Explore the Rijksmuseum's world-class art collection and research library. Search for masterpieces, access high-resolution image metadata via IIIF, and query linked open data.

06 8 capabilities

The Met Museum

Explore 470,000+ artworks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. search by artist, title, culture, date and department.

Bring your own AI

Change the model, client or framework. Keep Cooper Hewitt connected.

Before you connect

Questions about Cooper Hewitt.

The practical details behind the request, access and result.

Can I use the Cooper Hewitt MCP to find historical design inspiration?

Yes. You can ask your agent to find specific styles, materials, or eras from the museum's archive to build mood boards and find unique creative ideas.

How does the Cooper Hewitt MCP help with color research?

It allows you to pull exact color palettes from historical objects. This is perfect for ensuring your modern designs are grounded in authentic historical colors.

Can I find out who designed specific objects in the collection?

Yes. The Connector can retrieve information about the people, artists, and designers involved with specific items in the museum's archive.

Can I see what's currently on display in the museum?

You can ask your agent to list the items currently featured in physical galleries, which helps you see what's currently being highlighted by the museum.

Does the Cooper Hewitt MCP provide high-quality images?

Yes. You can request images for specific objects to see high-quality visual assets directly in your chat or workspace.

Can I search for specific historical periods using this Connector?

Absolutely. You can search the entire collection for specific time periods, like the Bauhaus era or 19th-century industrial design.

Is the Cooper Hewitt MCP good for academic research?

Yes. It's designed for researchers who need to extract precise metadata, exhibition histories, and participant info for professional or academic study.

Can I search for objects by a specific color?

Yes! Use the search_collection capability and provide a hex color or CSS name in the color parameter to find items matching that aesthetic.

How do I find out who designed a specific object?

Use the get_object_participants capability with the Object ID. It will return the names and roles of the people involved in the item's creation.

Is it possible to see what is currently on display at the museum?

Absolutely. The get_objects_on_display capability provides a paginated list of all objects currently featured in the physical galleries.

One connection away

Give your agent a direct line to Cooper Hewitt.

Connect Cooper Hewitt once. Keep it beside 5,900+ managed Connectors when the next task needs more.

Explore every Connector No credit card required · Free tier available