Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

The Mothership

African American Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

    Object Details

    Designed by

    George Clinton, American, born 1941
    Peter Larkin, American, born 1926
    Jules Fisher, American, born 1937

    Used by

    Parliament-Funkadelic, American, founded 1955

    Description

    "The Mothership" is the centerpiece stage prop used by Clinton and his multiple bands during their live concert performances. This object is a near-exact replica of the slightly larger Mothership that was used exclusively at the closing moments of concerts during the height of the band's popularity from 1976-1981. This replica prop was built from metal, plastic, and glass in the mid 1990s and used on the "Mothership Reconnection Tour".

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Love to the planet

    Date

    1990s

    Object number

    2011.83.1.1-.9

    Restrictions & Rights

    No Known Copyright Restrictions
    Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    props (object genres)

    Medium

    metal, plastic, glass

    Dimensions

    Overall with Weight: 120 × 250 × 113 in., 1500 lb. (304.8 × 635 × 287 cm, 680.4 kg)
    Ladder (in storage) 241 lbs.

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Classification

    Props and Set Design

    Movement

    Afrofuturism

    Exhibition

    Musical Crossroads

    On View

    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Art
    Design
    Funk (Music)
    Musicians
    Transportation

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a4bfdab2-f9ee-437b-9064-0154b9d7f176

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2011.83.1.1-.9

    Discover More

    Voyager record cover

    Music and the Cosmos

    Trumpet used by Dizzy Gillespie

    Musical Treasures at the Smithsonian

    astronaut holding an American flag with a cosmic view in the background

    Cosmic Collections

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collections

    arrow-up Back to top
    Home
    • Facebook facebook
    • Instagram instagram
    • LinkedIn linkedin
    • YouTube youtube

    • Contact Us
    • Get Involved
    • Shop Online
    • Job Opportunities
    • Equal Opportunity
    • Inspector General
    • Records Requests
    • Accessibility
    • Host Your Event
    • Press Room
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Use