• The role Thomas Edison inventor, entrepreneur, manufacturer,
husband and father, and cultural icon.
Interpretation each room will highlight the development two Edison’s
inventions, the phonograph and the storage battery, that visitors may easily
follow the research and development process.
• The impact the work done West Orange the daily lives millions of
people worldwide.. The work force the West Orange laboratory reached its peak
during this period, with over 200 experimenters, machinists and laborers
employed."
The strength the interpretation the laboratory complex lies the opportunity
to link the "perspiration" and "inspiration" inventing the development and
distribution Edison’s products the consumer market.
Furnished areas include the chemistry laboratory, pattern shop, library, stock
room, heavy machine shop, precision machine shop, and drafting rooms.
The examination two specific technologies will also encourage visitors to
consider the impact Edison’s inventions their own lives."
The three primary themes presented the Interpretive Prospectus include:
• The role the West Orange laboratory the development science, business
and technology.
2
. Historically furnished
areas interpret the site the period 1910 1920 when the Edison laboratory
complex was its most active—creating, refining, manufacturing and promoting
new products. Visitors should
come away from the site with greater understanding not only Edison’s
individual inventions, but also the process inventing. following the process from idea
to final product, visitors should gain greater understanding Edison’s working
method.The 1991 "Interpretive Prospectus" for the site refined these themes focusing
the current interpretation Edison’s definition new pattern for American
industry" which "connected the inventive process with the organization of
manufacturing [to] produce.
A secondary theme "the history the laboratory since Edison’s death 1931,
including the role the National Park Service preserving and interpreting the
vast cultural resources the site.final products for distribution national mass
market.
