Edison National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edison National Historical Park preserves Thomas Edison
's laboratory and residence, Glenmont, in Llewellyn Park
in West Orange, New Jersey
. For more than forty years, the laboratory had a major impact on the lives of people worldwide. Out of the West Orange laboratories came the motion picture camera, improved phonographs, sound recordings, silent and sound movies and the nickel-iron alkaline electric storage battery.
The history of how the site became a National Historic Park is complicated. Edison's home was designated as the Edison Home National Historic Site on December 6, 1955. The laboratory was designated as Edison Laboratory National Monument on July 14, 1956. On September 5, 1962, the 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) site containing the home and the laboratory were designated the Edison National Historic Site and overseen by the National Park Service
. On March 30, 2009 it was renamed Thomas Edison National Historical Park, adding "Thomas" to the title hopes to relieve confusion between the Edison sites in West Orange, NJ and Edison, NJ. Following extensive renovations of the laboratory complex, there was a grand reopening on October 10, 2009.
released a song called "The Edison Museum" about this site.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's laboratory and residence, Glenmont, in Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park is a gated residential community of 175 homes within West Orange, New Jersey. Llewellyn Park does not have its own municipal government, but operates as part of the Township of West Orange. It is located just west of New York City....
in West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
. For more than forty years, the laboratory had a major impact on the lives of people worldwide. Out of the West Orange laboratories came the motion picture camera, improved phonographs, sound recordings, silent and sound movies and the nickel-iron alkaline electric storage battery.
The history of how the site became a National Historic Park is complicated. Edison's home was designated as the Edison Home National Historic Site on December 6, 1955. The laboratory was designated as Edison Laboratory National Monument on July 14, 1956. On September 5, 1962, the 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) site containing the home and the laboratory were designated the Edison National Historic Site and overseen by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. On March 30, 2009 it was renamed Thomas Edison National Historical Park, adding "Thomas" to the title hopes to relieve confusion between the Edison sites in West Orange, NJ and Edison, NJ. Following extensive renovations of the laboratory complex, there was a grand reopening on October 10, 2009.
In popular culture
In 2002, the group They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
released a song called "The Edison Museum" about this site.
See also
- Edison's Black MariaEdison's Black MariaThe Black Maria was Thomas Edison's movie production studio in West Orange, New Jersey. It is widely referred to as America's First Movie Studio.- History :...
- Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and MuseumThomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and MuseumThe Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, also known as the Menlo Park Museum / Edison Memorial Tower, is a memorial to inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison, located in the Menlo Park area of Edison, New Jersey...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
- Edison Storage Battery Company BuildingEdison Storage Battery Company BuildingEdison Storage Battery Company Building, is located at 177 Main Street and Lakeside Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1996.-See also:...
- List of museums in New Jersey
External links
- Edison National Historic Site
- Glenmont, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, Essex County, NJ: 31 photos, 13 drawings, 12 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey. Note numerous other HABS photo sets available for outbuildings and Edison's laboratories, also (Search HABS here).
- The Invention Factory: Thomas Edison's Laboratories, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan