Public Domain Assets
Free-to-use visual, text, audio, and data sources with clear provenance for curious creators.
Start here when you want material you can inspect, remix, cite, or use without guessing about provenance.
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Featured gems
All gems in this topic
Make · Research · Design · PlayPublic WorkA compact search surface for public domain images from museum and library collections.Make · Research · Design · PlayInternet Archive Software LibraryPlayable and downloadable software collections from early computing, games, and public archives.Learn · Make · Research · DesignSmithsonian Open AccessOpen access collections from the Smithsonian, including images, data, and cultural heritage objects.Learn · Make · Research · DesignThe Met CollectionA searchable online collection from The Metropolitan Museum of Art with many public domain images.Learn · Make · Research · DesignLibrary of Congress Free to UseCurated sets of free-to-use images and primary sources from the Library of Congress.
Learn
3 gems
Smithsonian Open AccessOpen Smithsonian Open Access and start here: Start with the open access landing page and search by object type.The Met CollectionOpen The Met Collection and start here: Search a material, period, or object type.Library of Congress Free to UseOpen Library of Congress Free to Use and start here: Pick a themed set and open an item record.
Make
5 gems
Public WorkOpen Public Work and start here: Search for an object, color, animal, place, or mood.Internet Archive Software LibraryOpen Internet Archive Software Library and start here: Search by platform, year, or software family.Smithsonian Open AccessOpen Smithsonian Open Access and start here: Start with the open access landing page and search by object type.The Met CollectionOpen The Met Collection and start here: Search a material, period, or object type.Library of Congress Free to UseOpen Library of Congress Free to Use and start here: Pick a themed set and open an item record.
Research
5 gems
Public WorkOpen Public Work and start here: Search for an object, color, animal, place, or mood.Internet Archive Software LibraryOpen Internet Archive Software Library and start here: Search by platform, year, or software family.Smithsonian Open AccessOpen Smithsonian Open Access and start here: Start with the open access landing page and search by object type.The Met CollectionOpen The Met Collection and start here: Search a material, period, or object type.Library of Congress Free to UseOpen Library of Congress Free to Use and start here: Pick a themed set and open an item record.
Design
5 gems
Public WorkOpen Public Work and start here: Search for an object, color, animal, place, or mood.Internet Archive Software LibraryOpen Internet Archive Software Library and start here: Search by platform, year, or software family.Smithsonian Open AccessOpen Smithsonian Open Access and start here: Start with the open access landing page and search by object type.The Met CollectionOpen The Met Collection and start here: Search a material, period, or object type.Library of Congress Free to UseOpen Library of Congress Free to Use and start here: Pick a themed set and open an item record.
Play
2 gems