Historic Happenings Blog

Sunday, October 13  - West Orange, Essex County Harry's Magical Invention Bag Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity - practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman as he discusses the major role New Jersey plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions New Jersey inventors have brought into our world. Harry, a nationally known inventor, was a critical player in establishing the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame in 1989, and later went on to chair the organization from 1996-2004. The Hall of Fame honored him with an Inventor of the Year award in 2005 for his pioneering work in robotics, and honored him again in 2012 with a special achievement award for his dedication to the organization. The program, held from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm, is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Labor...

If you love the natural colors of summer into fall and have a curiosity about our NJ legend Thomas A. Edison, our Glenmont Garden Party is sure to be an amazing early evening of fun! The Friends of Thomas Edison National Historical Park (TENHP) is holding a Garden Party on the lawn of Glenmont, Edison's home in Llewellyn Park 12 Honeysuckle Ave, West Orange Saturday, Sept.28, 2019 4 pm to 6:30 pm You will be able to tour the newly refurbished gardens, enjoy local food and music, and a signature cocktail. Rain or shine under a tent! Tickets Are $45 for Friends of Edison members And $50 for non-members on  www.friendsofedison.org The Friends of Edison is a charitable organization founded in 1984 as a 501(C)3 to promote directly the historical, scientific, educational and interpretive activities of the TENHP. More information about Edison's legacy, history, other Friends of Thomas Edison National Historical Park projects and how to become a member are on  www.friendsofedison.org

Saturday,  September 21   - West Orange, Essex County Fall Family Fun Day Celebrate Fall Family Fun Day with special family activities at Glenmont, the home and estate of Thomas and Mina Edison in Llewellyn Park between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Visitors wanting to visit Glenmont, should pick up a car pass from the Laboratory Visitor Center.  Activities include tours of the 29-room Victorian Mansion and tours of the poured concrete garage which houses a circa 1900 Locomobile, 1911 and 1914 Detriot Electrics, 1922 Model T and the 1936 Brewster belonging to Charles Edison. Enjoy water color painting and obstacle course races on the lawn, Victorian board games, Junior Ranger activities, sand art, and a paper airplane building contest and much more.  Explore the 15 acre estate, garage, greenhouse, and the gravesite of Thomas and Mina Edison. Before going to Glenmont, you must first pick up a car pass and directions at the Laboratory Complex visitor center. You will not be ab...

Sunday, July 21   - West Orange, Essex County Geothermal Tour at the Glenmont Estate Go "behind the scenes" at the Edison home. Join a guide for a walk through the basement of the famous house and learn about its new geothermal heating and cooling system. This program will last about 30 minutes and take place at 1:00 pm. It focuses on the technical aspects of the environmentally friendly geothermal system. The basement is not wheelchair accessible. The tour is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $15.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Sunday, July 7   - West Orange, Essex County Geothermal Tour at the Glenmont Estate Go "behind the scenes" at the Edison home. Join a guide for a walk through the basement of the famous house and learn about its new geothermal heating and cooling system. This program will last about 30 minutes at take place at 1:00 pm. It focuses on the technical aspects of the environmentally friendly geothermal system. The basement is not wheelchair accessible. The tour is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $15.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Sunday, May 19 - West Orange, Essex County Glenmont Open House Step back into a time gone by as you tour the beautiful Glenmont Estate, Edison's home for 45 years. Glenmont is a shining example of architecture and style that is unmatched today. Don't miss out on your chance to tour the home of the great Thomas Alva Edison, and his beloved Mina.  Entrance to the home ends at 3:30 pm. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $15.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Sunday, May 5 - West Orange, Essex County Glenmont Open House Step back into a time gone by as you tour the beautiful Glenmont Estate, Edison's home for 45 years. Glenmont is a shining example of architecture and style that is unmatched today. Don't miss out on your chance to tour the home of the great Thomas Alva Edison, and his beloved Mina.  Entrance to the home ends at 3:30 pm. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $15.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Sunday, April 7 - West Orange, Essex County Glenmont Garage Have you ever wondered about what kind of cars Thomas Edison and his family owned and where they kept them? The Glenmont Garage will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm for viewing with a ranger there to answer questions and tell stories about Edison and his cars. See inside the Edison Portland Cement structure and learn about the various differently powered cars in there. A car pass is required to visit Glenmont and available at the Laboratory Complex visitor center. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .

Saturday - Sunday,  November and December  - West Orange, Essex County Holidays at Glenmont The sights and sounds of the season will greet visitors when they come to Thomas Edison's home in Llewellyn Park during "Holidays at Glenmont." Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. Staircases will be ringed with boughs and red ribbon bows and wreaths will hang in every window. In the den, the majestic ten foot tree will be set and the presents underneath will be waiting as if the Edison children Madeleine, Theodore, and Charles, will soon come running down the stairs from their rooms - after they've checked their stockings in the upstairs living room! The Edison home, Glenmont, is located on a fifteen-acre estate in Llewellyn Park, the country's first private residential community. Built in 1880, the twenty-nine room mansion contains the original furnishings an...

Sunday, December 16  - West Orange, Essex County Harry's Magical Invention Bag Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity - practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman, a Thomas Edison National Historical Park volunteer, retired engineer, as well as inventor and patent holder, as he discusses the major role NJ plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions NJ inventors have brought into our world. The program, held from 1:00 - 2:00 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm, is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $10.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x11 or visit  www.nps.gov/edis .