Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey State Park Service

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Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park Overview

The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, located in Edison State Park, is a facility dedicated to educating the public on the life and achievements of Thomas Edison, as well as focusing on his notable accomplishments that took place at Edison’s Menlo Park lab. In 1876, Thomas Edison and new wife Mary Stilwell moved to Menlo Park and the laboratory began its existence until 1887. Here he developed the phonograph and in 1879 the incandescent light bulb.

The Center is comprised of the Art Deco Edison Memorial Tower and a museum featuring an education center. The top of the tower is meant to resemble the incandescent bulb which Edison first developed. The museum features original artifacts and interpretive exhibits representing the incandescent light bulb and the development of the phonograph. the phonograph being the invention to earn Edison the title of the “Wizard of Menlo Park.”

The Center provides interpretive programming for the public and organized groups as well as a small gift shop. Visit the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park for more information. The Edison tower is administered by the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry.

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.

For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

  • Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
  • No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
  • Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
  • The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
  • Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
  • Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
  • Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
  • Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
  • Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
  • Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

Related Links

Cheesequake State Park
Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park

General

Phone Number
732-549-3299

Address
37 Christie Street
Edison NJ, 08820

Historic Site Hours

Grounds Hours Sunrise to Sunset
Tour Hours Please call the site for hours of operation.

Park Fees

Entrance Fee Check the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park website

Other Related Fees
Map / Directions