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Edison Battery-Powered Cap Lamp, Creator:  Mine Safety Appliances Company, 1915

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Step into Menlo Park, a place where innovation sparked a revolution in the 19th century, led by Thomas Edison. Just as we’re experiencing today, in 2024, a world reshaped by artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital transformation, Edison and his team were at the forefront of a new technological era—ushering in the age of electricity and communication.

In this space, you’ll meet the workers, inventors, and everyday people who were part of that rapid change. Hear their stories, learn about the challenges they faced, and reflect on the parallels between their world of invention and the one we’re navigating today. Whether in Edison’s time or our own, the drive to innovate and adapt has always been central to progress. Welcome to a time where change was inevitable—and full of possibility.

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Electric Light Bulb,  Creator: Thomas Edison, 1879

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The interpreter will describe how the electric light bulb was developed through trial and error. Edison and his team tested many materials for the filament, often working long hours. After much experimentation, they discovered that carbonized cotton thread could burn for hours. The filament was placed inside a vacuum-sealed glass globe, preventing it from burning out. This innovation revolutionized daily life, extended productive hours, and transformed industries. Edison’s work paved the way for modern electrical systems and marked a pivotal technological moment.

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Phonograph,  Creator: Thomas Edison, 1877

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The interpreter will describe how the phonograph was developed and the challenges Edison faced. Initially meant to record telephone messages, the idea expanded to capture voices, music, and sounds. After testing many prototypes, Edison discovered a breakthrough using a tin-foil-covered cylinder to record sound vibrations. In 1877, he recorded "Mary Had a Little Lamb," cementing the phonograph's success. This led to Edison earning the title "Inventor of the Age" and the nickname "Wizard of Menlo Park." The phonograph laid the foundation for modern sound recording.

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Alkaline Storage Battery, Creator: Thomas Edison, 1903

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The interpreter will explain how Thomas Edison and his team developed the alkaline storage battery to solve issues with early electric car batteries, which were heavy and leaked acid. Edison aimed to create a lighter, more reliable power source. After early setbacks, he discovered that an alkaline electrolyte improved the battery’s performance and lifespan. Edison’s invention powered electric vehicles, mining lamps, trains, and submarines, becoming a significant achievement in energy storage, despite being overshadowed by Ford’s Model T.

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Automatic Telegraph, Creator: Thomas Edison, 1872-74

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The interpreter will explain how Thomas Edison's automatic telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication by automating the transmission of messages. In the late 19th century, telegraphy was labor-intensive, requiring operators to manually transmit and receive messages. Edison developed a system that used perforated paper tape and electrical impulses to send multiple messages simultaneously over a single wire. This innovation increased efficiency, eliminating the need for human operators and benefiting industries such as railroads, banks, and news organizations.

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"The Wizard Searches". Cover of The Daily Graphic of New York, 9 July 1879

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Electric Pen, Creator: Thomas Edison, 1875

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Kinetograph camera, Creator: Thomas Edison and W. K. L. Dickson,  1912

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This is the interpreter of this exhibit of the museum. Dressed as a worker, he will explain the objects and how they correlate to the elements and theme of the museum. But most importantly he will explain each of edison's inventions, and what it was like to work with him.

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Object #1: https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/edisons-light-bulb-turns-135

https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/collection/edisons-lightbulb

Object #2: https://www.loc.gov/collections/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/history-of-edison-sound-recordings/history-of-the-cylinder-phonograph/

Object #3: https://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/ed_a02.htm

object# 4: https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/inventions?view=article&id=540:storage-battery&catid=91:inventions

https://nationalmaglab.org/magnet-academy/history-of-electricity-magnetism/museum/edison-battery-1903/

Object #5: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/mining-lights-and-hats/electric-lamps

object #6: https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/inventions?catid=91&id=527&view=article

object #7: https://www.history.com/news/thomas-edison-inventions

Object #8: https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/inventions?view=article&id=533:electric-pen&catid=91

Choice of objects: https://www.thomasedison.org/inventions https://www.history.com/news/thomas-edison-inventions

Additional information: https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/historyculture/edison-biography.htm?simple=True

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If time-travel were possible and I could pick a moment, I’d choose Menlo Park, New Jersey, for my destination on New Year’s Eve in 1879.