World's largest collection of Edison inventions, world record in New Jersey

October 25, 2025

West Orange, New Jersey, United States--The Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey includes his laboratory complex and Glenmont Estate and houses over 300,000 artifacts and 5 million documents, setting the world record for the World's largest collection of Edison inventions, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: Facebook/Thomas Edison

"The world's largest collection of Edison inventions is located at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey.

"This site includes his laboratory complex and Glenmont Estate and houses over 300,000 artifacts and 5 million documents, making it the most extensive collection of his work."

Contents: The collection is divided into history artifacts and archives. The historical site features Edison's actual laboratory, which served as a template for modern research and development labs.
Significance: This collection represents the vast scope of his work, which led to 1,093 U.S. patents and the development of numerous technologies that are still in use today.
Access: The collection is preserved and made accessible to the public through the National Park Service.

"At the corner of Main Street and Lakeside Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey stands a group of red brick buildings. To the passing motorist the buildings betray little evidence of their glory days and of the people who worked inside.

"A short distance away is Glenmont, Thomas Edison's estate. Together, the laboratory and residence preserve the work and character of America's foremost inventor, Thomas Edison and the family, friends and business associates who played a key role in his success," the National Park service says.

"The museum collections at Thomas Edison National Historical Park are by far the largest single body of Edison-related material extant. They are the product of Thomas Alva Edison's sixty-year career as an inventor, manufacturer, businessman, and private citizen. The collections are divided into three broad categories: History artifacts, archives, and natural history and comprise holdings at both the Laboratory complex and the Glenmont Estate.

"The sheer size of the holdings is daunting: the history collection is currently estimated to number over 300,000 items, while the archives contain approximately five million documents. The Natural History Collection consists of plant specimens collected from the Glenmont Estate as part of a 1995 plant inventory. In total, it is the third largest museum collection in the National Park Service."

"Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, sound recording, and motion pictures.

"These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention, working with many researchers and employees. He established the first industrial research laboratory.

"Edison was raised in the American Midwest. Early in his career he worked as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his earliest inventions. In 1876, he established his first laboratory facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his early inventions were developed. He went into business and became wealthy. Edison used his fortune to further his passion for invention. This was realized in experimental mining operations, the first film studio, and 1,093 US patents." (Wikipedia)

"Thomas Edison's record 1,093 patented inventions have greatly improved the world we know today. In fact, Edison is recognized as one of the greatest inventors of all time. His key inventions include the light bulb and electric utility system, recorded sound, motion pictures, R&D labs, and the alkaline family of storage batteries," the official site of Thomas Edison says.

"His 4,000 invention notebooks chronicle the invention challenges of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, telling a vivid story of man's progress to a technological society.

"Thomas Edison is most well known for his invention of the light bulb. Contrary to popular belief, Edison did not invent the light bulb; it had been around for a number of years. The electric lights at the time, however, were unreliable, expensive, and short-lived. Over twenty distinct efforts by other inventors the world over were already underway when Edison entered the light bulb invention race."

"Thomas Edison National Historical Park preserves Thomas Edison's laboratory and residence, Glenmont, in West Orange, New Jersey, United States. These were designed, in 1887, by architect Henry Hudson Holly. The Edison laboratories operated for more than 40 years. Out of the West Orange laboratories came the motion picture camera, improved phonographs, sound recordings, silent and sound movies and the nickel-iron alkaline electric storage battery.

"The park comprises two properties in West Orange: the second Edison Laboratories complex and Edison's home in Llewellyn Park about .5 miles (0.80 km) to the west at 40°47′10″N 74°14′26″W.

"The laboratory complex comprises the industrial facility built by Edison in 1887 to research and develop his inventions. The complex includes more than a dozen buildings that supported Edison's research into electricity, photography, motion pictures, chemistry, metallurgy and other disciplines. A private library was attached to the main laboratory building. Specialty heavy and precision machine shops made tooling and prototypes." (Wikipedia)

"Thomas Edison National Historical Park is where Thomas Edison worked and lived from 1886 until his death 1931. It was in the Laboratory Complex that he developed the phonograph, storage battery and motion picture camera.

"At the Laboratory Complex you can see his library, stockroom, machine shops and music room. Explore 20,000 square feet of additional exhibit space, including two floors of the main laboratory building that has never before been open to the public. The Laboratory is now a self guided experience so you can pick and choose what's interesting to you. Spend an afternoon exploring the estate of Thomas and Mina Edison called Glenmont," the Visit New Jersey says.

"Thomas Edison purchased this estate for his new bride Mina Miller Edison in 1886. At Glenmont, the Edisons raised their children, entertained friends, family and Edison business associates. Spend some time wandering the grounds – there is even a cell phone tour to guide you around."

"The Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey, preserves the home and laboratory complex of inventor Thomas Edison. It was at this complex that Edison produced the commercial phonograph (record player), developed the alkaline storage battery, and founded the motion-picture industry," the Britannica says.

"Edison’s Laboratory Complex was the world’s first industrial research laboratory. It includes 14 historic structures. The main building held a research library, experimental rooms, and machine shops for building models. There were separate buildings for physics, chemistry, and metallurgy (the science of separating metals from ore). Many of the rooms contain their original furnishings. The park also offers a replica of the world’s first motion-picture studio, the “Black Maria.”