# Cooper Hewitt MCP > The Cooper Hewitt MCP gives your agent direct access to the Smithsonian Design Museum collection data. You can search for design objects using keywords or time periods, pull detailed metadata on specific items, and even get the color palettes. It lets you see what's currently on display in their physical galleries. This is essential for anyone researching art history, industrial design, or just needs deep context on a piece of cultural heritage. ## Overview - **Category:** knowledge-management - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** museum-api, design-history, smithsonian, art-collection, metadata-search ## Description Need to research something historical but hate jumping between museum websites? Connect your agent to the Cooper Hewitt MCP. It lets you explore one of the world's deepest collections—everything from objects and textiles to people involved in design history. Instead of manually searching through dozens of web pages for a piece's background, your AI client handles it all. You can ask about an object’s full exhibition history or pull its exact color codes. The system also lets you see what pieces are physically on view right now. Getting this data is much easier when you connect via Vinkius, making the entire catalog available to any MCP-compatible client. ## Tools ### get_exhibition_info Retrieves detailed information about any specific museum exhibition. ### get_exhibition_objects Lists all the objects that were part of a given exhibition. ### get_object_colors Returns the full color palette used in an object, along with their hex codes. ### get_object_exhibitions Shows which exhibitions a specific object has been featured in. ### get_object_images Retrieves high-quality images associated with an object for visual reference. ### get_object_info Gets detailed descriptive information about a single, identified museum object. ### get_object_participants Identifies the people (designers, artists) who were involved with an object's creation or history. ### get_objects_on_display Provides a list of all museum objects currently visible in the physical galleries. ### get_person_images Retrieves images related to a specific person associated with design history. ### get_person_info Gets biographical and professional details about a person linked to the collection. ### get_person_objects Lists all objects that are associated with a specific person's work. ### get_random_object Pulls an object randomly from the entire collection to spark creative ideas. ### list_exhibitions Provides a complete list of all exhibitions recorded in the museum's database. ### list_rooms Lists every room available across all physical museum locations. ### list_sites Returns a list of all location sites where the museum has operated or housed collections. ### search_collection Performs a broad search across the entire collection using keywords, colors, or dates. ### search_objects_faceted Searches for objects and returns results broken down by specific criteria (e.g., material, time period). ### search_objects Focuses a keyword search specifically on individual objects in the collection. ### spec_formats Returns a list of valid data formats the API can use. ### spec_methods Lists all available API response methods for documentation purposes. ### test_echo A test method that simply repeats back all the parameters you pass it, confirming connectivity. ### test_error Return a test error from the API ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for objects in the collection related to 'Bauhaus' that have images. ``` **Response:** ``` I've searched the collection for 'Bauhaus' items with images. I found several objects, including a 1923 wallpaper sample (ID: 18491569) and a tea infuser. Would you like to see the detailed metadata or images for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Give me the color palette for object ID 18639529. ``` **Response:** ``` Fetching the color profile for object 18639529... The palette includes 'Vivid Tangerine' (#FF9F80), 'Dark Charcoal' (#333333), and 'Light Gray' (#D3D3D3). ``` **Prompt:** ``` Show me a random object from the museum to inspire my next design project. ``` **Response:** ``` Here is a random selection: 'Bird and Anemone' textile (1882), designed by William Morris. It's a block-printed cotton fabric featuring intricate floral and avian patterns. Would you like to see its exhibition history? ``` ## Capabilities ### Search the full collection Find objects and people in the museum's archive using broad criteria like keywords or dates. ### Get deep object details Retrieve rich data on a single item, including its description, colors, and who was involved in its creation. ### Track exhibition history Determine which shows or exhibitions an object has been featured in throughout time. ### Find related people Identify the designers, artists, and participants associated with a specific artifact or collection piece. ### Check current displays See exactly which objects are featured in the museum's galleries right now. ## Use Cases ### A student needs context for a presentation on Art Deco textiles. The agent uses `search_collection` with 'Art Deco' and 'textile'. Then, it calls `get_object_exhibitions` to find where those specific items were shown. Finally, it uses `get_object_info` to pull key dates for the presentation slides. ### A designer is modeling a piece after William Morris's work. The agent pulls information on a random object using `get_random_object`. It then calls `get_object_participants` to identify who worked with Morris, and uses `get_person_info` to understand their background. This provides immediate design inspiration. ### A museum worker needs inventory details for a new exhibition. The agent first runs `list_exhibitions` to check the list, then calls `get_object_exhibitions` multiple times using known object IDs. This guarantees that every object is accounted for before the show opens. ### A researcher needs a comprehensive timeline of design trends. The agent runs `search_collection` across broad time ranges (e.g., 1900-1930) and then uses `get_object_info` on key results to build a detailed, verifiable academic narrative. ## Benefits - You pull precise color data for any item using `get_object_colors`, so you don't have to guess the right hex code when recreating a vintage look. - Instead of just finding an object, you can map its entire professional life. Use `get_object_participants` and `get_person_objects` to see every person tied to that design piece. - Need general inspiration? Running `get_random_object` instantly gives you a historical starting point for mood boards or project ideas without any initial searching. - Check physical availability with `get_objects_on_display`. Know exactly what's on view right now, eliminating the guesswork of museum hours and rotating exhibits. - You can narrow down search results dramatically using `search_objects_faceted`, filtering objects by specific criteria like material or time period to get highly accurate data. ## How It Works The bottom line is that your AI client acts like a specialized design researcher, pulling complex museum records into simple answers for you. 1. Subscribe to this MCP and provide your Cooper Hewitt API Access Token. 2. Direct your AI client—like Cursor or Claude—to use the connector for design research. You just ask a question about an object, person, or exhibition. 3. The agent calls the necessary tools, pulls structured data from the collection, and hands you a clean answer right in your workflow. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I find out what colors an object has using get_object_colors?** You provide the unique object ID to `get_object_colors`. The tool returns a structured list of all colors used on that piece, including their exact hex codes and descriptive names. **Can I find out who designed an object using get_object_participants?** Yes. Give the agent the object ID, and `get_object_participants` pulls a list of every person—designers, artists, etc.—associated with that specific artifact. **What is the best way to search for objects by date?** Use the `search_collection` tool and specify your desired time period in the query. This will pull results across all object types, giving you a broad view of that era. **How do I find out what is currently on display using get_objects_on_display?** `get_objects_on_display` returns a clean list of IDs and names for every object physically available in the museum's galleries right now. **What credentials do I need before using get_object_info or search_collection?** You must use a valid API Access Token for all calls. Vinkius requires you to pass this token during the setup process so your agent can authenticate with the Cooper Hewitt system. **How do I find out which objects are included in a specific exhibition using get_exhibition_objects?** The `get_exhibition_objects` tool returns a list of all associated object IDs. You can then pass those IDs to other tools, like `get_object_info`, for full details. **Can I restrict my search results geographically using search_collection?** Yes, you first call `list_sites` to get location names. You then use these site IDs within the `search_collection` parameters to narrow down results by physical area. **What kind of data can I pull about a person using get_person_info?** The tool provides comprehensive data on an individual, including their biography and all associated object IDs. You'll need to use `get_person_objects` if you want the full list. **Can I search for objects by a specific color?** Yes! Use the `search_collection` tool 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` tool 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` tool provides a paginated list of all objects currently featured in the physical galleries.