This brick Greek Revival house is the birthplace of Thomas A. Edison in Milan, Ohio. (Credit: Carole Levine)

By Ken Drenten

Naming a few of the groundbreaking inventions of Thomas A. Edison is not difficult – the incandescent lightbulb, the phonograph, the motion picture camera and electrical power generation were all patented by this entrepreneur and inventor.

Working with teams of researchers and scientists, Edison had 1,093 U.S. patents credited to his name.

Edison was born in 1847 in Milan, Ohio, just north of Norwalk. The town is justifiably proud of its place in history and has carefully restored and preserved the home as the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum at 9 N. Edison Drive. The home has been a museum since 1947.

You can step inside the brick Greek Revival home where Edison was born and lived until the age of 7. Costumed guides will provide explanations of artifacts in the home and share stories about Edison’s boyhood and family.

Museum displays showcase Edison’s extraordinary life and pioneering work, from his early inventions to his transformative innovations in electricity, communication and other fields.

The museum’s Don Gfell Education Center offers visitors an exciting and engaging way to further explore Edison’s life and work. A gift shop offers a variety of unique Edison-themed books, educational materials and souvenirs.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m. in September, and Friday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m., October, November and December; closed January and February.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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