Innovative Lives: Stephen and Elizabeth Wampler

How do we redefine what’s possible? Join the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation for an inspiring conversation with Stephen and Elizabeth Wampler, visionaries who challenge conventional limits and champion the power of perseverance, creativity, and innovation.

Stephen Wampler made history in 2010 as the first person with cerebral palsy to summit El Capitan—one of the most formidable rock-climbing challenges in the world. Using an innovative cable pulley system of his own design and a custom-built climbing chair, Wampler pulled himself up the 3,000-foot rock face in an extraordinary six-day journey, completing 20,000 pull-ups, just inches at a time. His feat was more than a test of physical endurance; it was an act of invention, proving that ingenuity can overcome even the steepest obstacles.

Together with his wife, Elizabeth, Wampler continues to push boundaries through the Stephen J. Wampler Foundation, which provides outdoor education programs that empower children with physical disabilities to embrace adventure and challenge. Their story exemplifies the belief that everyone is inventive, and that innovation isn’t just about new technologies—it’s about reimagining what’s possible.

Host or Publisher Smithsonian's Lemelson Center