Thomas Edison Laboratory & Museum Visit
Back in September I got the chance to visit Thomas Edison’s Laboratory and Home Museum for the first time. They were just reopening after remodeling since 2003. Since I had never been there before I took the trip with Andrew since he had been and knew a little bit extra about touring there.
Mr. Edison had contributed so much to the technology of his time, it interested me to see where he produced these creations. The weekend we went was the grand reopening with free admission and many other pluses. We enjoyed a self-guided tour of his study, laboratory, and workshop floors. Also including a guided house tour of his Glenmont Estate, where he and his wife are buried.
His study was a grand 3-floored room with many reading materials and even a retractable screen to watch films. There were 3 workshop floors to wander around, including a photography room complete with an original large format camera. Plus his recording room where all the famous musicians played to record on his phonographs.
On the way out we stopped by the laboratory, where many of the glass bottles grabbed my attention artistically. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed in, but got to see into the “Black Maria,” which was Edison’s moveable movie production studio. It was built on a track to be moved, allowing sunlight to always enter the opening in the roof, so they always had enough light to record throughout the day.
The tour of his home a few blocks away at the gated Glenmont Estate was just as intriguing as the laboratory. We got a full tour of just about every room of the house to see how Edison and his family lived.
I highly recommend this laboratory and home tour for any photographer or history buff. I will certainly be enjoying another tour of Edison’s Museum, especially when it is less crowded than on opening weekend.