Thomas Edison National Historical Park: A Visitor’s Guide
The Thomas Edison National Historical Park, located in West Orange, New Jersey, is close to New York City. The park preserves the home and laboratory of one of America’s greatest inventors and offers a wonderful stop for history buffs, science enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a fascinating glimpse into the innovation that shaped modern life.
We visited on a beautiful early spring afternoon. The parking lot across the street from the Laboratory section was about halfway full.
Discovering Edison’s Laboratory
At the heart of the historic site is Edison’s West Orange Laboratory Complex. The laboratory is incredibly well preserved, filled with original equipment, tools, and buildings that offer insight into the inventive process of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As we passed through the lab, we saw many different revolutionary inventions. We saw an extensive display of early lightbulb designs, which, of course, Edison is most famous for.
Some other highlights include the Chemistry Lab. Signs explained how Edison experimented with different materials and substances in the lab for his inventions.
The Machine Shop is still filled with vintage tools and machines used to build prototypes.
The Recording Studio was a space where some of the earliest sound recordings were made. We saw the first phonograph, developed in 1877. Using the machine, people recorded sound for the first time and played it back. Edison used it to record “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It recorded sound waves as indentations on a sheet of tinfoil.
The Library contains Edison’s personal collection of reference books. In the library, we also saw Edison’s roll-top desk, exactly as it was when he died, with personal items like papers, pens, and even his cigars still resting on it.
A great audio tour is available as you make your way through the lab. It goes into detail about the different areas of the lab and gives great perspective on Edison and his life.
Touring Glenmont: Edison’s Home
After we were done checking out Edison’s laboratory, we decided to head over to Glenmont, Edison’s incredible 29-room Victorian mansion. The estate is located in the nearby Llewellyn Park neighborhood, which is a short drive from the lab.
This grand home, which he shared with his wife Mina Miller Edison and their children, offers an intimate look at his personal life.
Tours of the home are offered frequently, reservations are recommended. Heads up, photography and videography are not permitted inside the home. You can take pictures outside. If you tour the inside you see Edison’s bedroom, where he passed away on October 18, 1931. The estate is furnished with period pieces and original belongings. Along the way you see and learn about exhibits showcasing Edison’s family life.
On our visit, we did not tour the house. It was not offered that day. We did enjoy visiting the grounds. We saw Mina Edison’s gardens. The beautifully maintained gardens where she spent much of her time.
Thomas and Mina Edison Graves
We also took a few moments to visit their graves. Both Thomas Edison and his wife Mina are buried on the property.
