Snow globes were accidentally invented by a medical tool repair man. He was trying to make a brighter light bulb for operating rooms, so he tried using a water filled glass with reflective particles to do this. The effect looked like snow to him which is how he got the idea for snow globes.
In 1900, Erwin Perzy, only 24 years old at the time, specialized in designing and repairing medical tools. He liked experimenting and trying new designs. So, when local doctors asked him for better light in their operating rooms, he got to work.