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Edison National Historic Site
For Kids
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NPS Photo | Thomas Edison holding a lightbulb. |
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Want to learn more about Thomas Edison? Do you need to write a paper about Thomas Edison or one of his inventions? You've come to the right spot! Check out the information about Thomas Edison and his inventions below. Still can't find what you are looking for? You can contact a Park Ranger and ask them your question.
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NPS Photo Credit | Thomas Edison with his motion picture projector in the library. |
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Edison's Inventions
What were Thomas Edison's top three inventions? The question is harder than you might think. Edison earned 1,093 United States patents for his inventions.
How do you make a filament for the light bulb? What machine can make enough electric power to light up all those bulbs? How do you get electric power to all those light bulbs out there? All these questions have to be answered; all these things have to be invented. That is why each of the inventions below took years of hard work. No wonder Edison said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration!"
These three inventions are considered Edison's greatest: the electric light system, the phonograph and motion pictures. If Edison had only invented one of these, he would have made an important contribution to the world. But even these top three inventions were not enough for him. Other patents included the alkaline storage battery, improvements to the telegraph, the telephone and the stock ticker, Portland cement and even a substitute for rubber. At Edison's three laboratories (Newark, Menlo Park and West Orange), his "muckers" worked night and day on his many ideas.
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Replica of Thomas Edison's first working lightbulb Be an inventor. Play on-line games. more... | | Thomas Edison taking notes in the Chemistry Lab. Try your hand at Edison's employee test. more... | |
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Did You Know?
Thomas Edison passed away in 1931 and his wife Mina passed in 1947. They were buried at Rosedale Cemetery. In 1963, the family had Thomas and Mina re-buried at the home they loved and where they spent their 44 years together - Glenmont.
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Last Updated: September 20, 2007 at 12:21 EST |