What Is Thomas Edison National Historical Park?
Thomas Edison National Historical Park preserves the laboratory complex of the famed inventor!
What Makes It Historical?
Having earned his reputation as the Wizard of Menlo Park by inventing the electric light system, Thomas Edison built a new, much larger laboratory here in West Orange in 1887! Here, he and his “muckrakers” worked tirelessly to improve the phonograph and create X-ray imagery, alkaline batteries, and motion pictures!
This site preserves five million pages of Mr. Edison’s original documents and correspondences, including fan letters sent to him by multiple US presidents! His desk is largely in the same state as when he died, and while some parts of the complex have had to be rebuilt, like the Black Maria movie studio, much of the machines and library are originals!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer at Thomas Edison National Historical Park!
- Donate to the Edison Innovation Foundation!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
Laboratory Complex
- 211 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052
Glenmont Estate
- 119 Park Way
West Orange, NJ 07052
When Should I Visit the Park?
The laboratory is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and until 5:00 PM between July and September!
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