Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park · NJ · nps.gov page

Large salmon colored Victorian mansion with green lawn and blue sky — Thomas Edison purchased Glenmont as a wedding present for his wife Mina in 1886, for the cost of $125,000 USD.Photo: NPS Photo

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory, when machines were run by belts and pulleys and music was played on phonographs. Discover where America’s greatest inventor changed our world forever.

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Large work space room with machines connected to belts and pullies — One of main machine shops, where Thomas Edison and his staff worked on research and development, prototypes, and products.Photo: NPS Photo

Cream colored, two story cement building surrounded by large trees — Thomas Edison's poured concrete garage houses both electric and gas powered vehicles belonging to the Edison family.Photo: NPS Photo

Small red building next to large brick building with a water tower in the background. — Just as Thomas Edison did every morning, visitors can walk in his footsteps by entering the laboratory complex's iron main gate.Photo: NPS Photo

Large black building covered in tar paper surrounded by a barrier fence — The Black Maria was the first building built for the recording of motion pictures. This exact replica of the original was built as a movie set for the film "Edison the Man", starring Spencer Tracy, in 1954.Photo: NPS Photo

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.