Abstract
This thesis examined the landscape of the Laboratory Unit at Edison National Historic Site, a 5.78-acre site in West Orange, New Jersey. It was the location of Thomas Alva Edison’s laboratory from 1887 to 1931, the year of his death. The research was supported by the National Park Service to inform planned preservation of the cultural landscape.
Edison became famous for developing the first incandescent light bulb. Although he already had facilities in Menlo Park and New York City, he wanted a separate complex that combined inventive research and industrial manufacturing, resulting in the establishment of the Edison Laboratories in 1887. For the next 44 years Edison, invented and experimented on projects including the development and improvements on electric lighting, photography, motion pictures, and battery power. The Laboratories became the hub of activity at what became known as the West Orange Plant. In 1962, Edison’s home, Glenmont, was donated to the National Park Service and together the two units, Laboratory unit and Glenmont comprise the Edison National Historic Site. The period of significance for the Laboratory Unit of Edison National Historic Site is 1887-1931. The period encompasses Edison’s tenure at the site from its construction in 1887 until his death in 1931.
This thesis consists of a site history in five chapters, and a final chapter containing a site analysis. The thesis recommends that the cultural landscape be considered part of the site’s significance. It also provides a variety of treatment recommendations for the proposed rehabilitation of the site to enhance its historic character during the period of significance.
This thesis is available at SUNY ESF’s Moon Library – Thesis Call Number J6916