Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum

Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park

The Edison Memorial Tower in 2011 while being restored.
Location 37 Christie Street, Edison, New Jersey
Coordinates 40°33′47″N 74°20′22″W / 40.56306°N 74.33944°W / 40.56306; -74.33944Coordinates: 40°33′47″N 74°20′22″W / 40.56306°N 74.33944°W / 40.56306; -74.33944
Area 3.4 acres (1.4 ha)
Built 1938
Architect Massena & DuPont
Architectural style Art Deco
NRHP Reference # 79001505[1]
Added to NRHP November 30, 1979

The 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, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The tower was dedicated on February 11, 1938, on what would have been the inventor's 91st birthday.

The tower marks the location of Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, the world's first organized research and development site. He came to Menlo Park in 1876, the area was then known as Raritan Township, and later changed (in 1954) to Edison Township. Menlo Park is known as the Birthplace of Recorded Sound (November 1877), and the site of the world's first practical incandescent lamp-light bulb (October 1879). Edison and his staff would create 400 of his most important inventions here. It was this site that Edison would fondly nickname, his 'Invention Factory'. Edison and his staff were working in New York City, building the world's first central distribution site for electricity, when his wife Mary Stilwell Edison died at their Menlo Park home. He would later relocate to West Orange, New Jersey in 1884 to what is now the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. The original Menlo Park buildings began to deteriorate, and by 1926 most of the buildings had either collapsed or burned, and the only two remaining buildings were later moved to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

The tower's pinnacle is meant to represent an incandescent light bulb[2] and originally included an audio system that according to a 2004 Weird NJ magazine could be heard from a distance of two miles. The American concrete pioneer John Joseph Earley was involved in its construction. The Tower, which rises 131 feet above the Terrace, is topped by a 14' 8" foot high Bulb made of Pyrex segments by the Corning Corporation. The tower is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, and is now being restored, a project managed by The State of New Jersey.

The museum showcases many of Thomas Edison's creations including the phonograph and many of his light bulbs, as well as memorabilia relating to Edison and his inventions. The museum also showcases many images taken of Edison's property, inventions, and family.

The remainder of Edison's 36-acre (15 ha) estate is now the Edison State Park.

The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park is jointly administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry, the Township of Edison, and the non-profit Edison Memorial Tower Corporation.

The Edison Memorial Tower Corporation, a 501(c)3, has been instrumental in having the current museum renovated. The renovated museum reopened on June 9, 2012, with old and newly acquired artifacts. The new professional interpretative exhibits were designed by Daniel Schnur, NYC.

Restoration

The tower is currently under restoration. Concrete samples have been taken off the facade and sent to a laboratory where they have been tested for their specific makeup. This is so the recreated panels will match the old ones that do not need replacing.

Other parts of the area being replaced is the Centennial Plaque, which was stolen a number of years ago. The lower, remaining part of the plaque has been sent to a Metallurgist to match the color.

The restoration is set to be complete by October 2015, and there will be a re-dedication ceremony on the 24th of October, 2015. The ceremony will show of the newly-refurbished tower, media system which played music from the tower's construction until the 50s, and grounds, and will conclude with the relighting of the large light bulb at the top of the tower.

Also to note there have been a few Eagle Scout projects in the area. One is the large informational sign across Christie Street from the tower. This project contains information about the Electric Railroad Edison built in that spot. The second project is the sign at the bottom edge of the property, closest to Route 27. The newest project was completed on June 8, 2013, and is a sign closer to the museum. It was completed by Tyler Kerekgyarto of Troop 12, based in Edison, NJ. The sign contains information about the museum, the website, and hours of operation.

World's largest light bulb

The sphere atop the tower has been called the "world's largest light bulb".[3][4] Another famous sphere, the Union Watersphere, that has long been known as the "world's tallest water sphere" is located in nearby Union.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ History of the tower, Accessed September 30, 2009.
  3. ↑ Rawlings, Nate (July 28, 2010). "World's Largest Light Bulb; Edison, NJ". Top 50 American Roadside Attractions. TIME. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  4. ↑ "World's Largest Light Bulb". www.roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  5. ↑ Rose, Lisa (February 22, 2012), "Despite challenge, Union Township water tower remains a Jersey landmark", The Star-Ledger, retrieved 2012-02-21
  6. ↑ World's Tallest Watersphere
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