Situated about
45 minutes from New York City, the Edison laboratory and museum
is one the most popular all the National Parks the
East Coast. These
visitors come from all parts the nation and large section
come from abroad.1
INTRODUCTION
The Edison National Historic Site attracts thousands of
people West Orange who would normally avoid the harsh,
de-industrialized landscape north New Jersey. Edison's invention the incandescent light bulb
marked the beginning another burst innovation that
created several major new industries.
It perhaps significant that the architects today's
micro-electronics "revolution" find relevance the history of
the Second Industrial Revolution, which began the 1870s and
lasted until the Great War 1914-1918. The Park Service anticipates that over 50,000
people will visit the site 1987— its centenary year. This period rapid
economic growth came after the first wave industrialization
had begun transform the economy and society the United
States. The Second Industrial
. hardly surprising that Edison's
laboratory most popular with Japanese tourists, who share
his work ethic and commitment innovation
