39 moments

1. Born in Milan

   1847-02-11 · Milan, Ohio, United States

   

   Thomas Alva Edison was born in the Ohio canal town of Milan. Settlement coordinates represent Milan.

2. Childhood in Port Huron

   1854-01-01 · Port Huron, Michigan, United States

   

   The Edison family relocated to Port Huron, where Edison spent the remainder of his childhood and began experimenting and working on the railroad. The source supports residence from 1854 through 1863 but not a more precise relocation date.

3. Studies telegraphy at Mount Clemens

   1862-01-01 · Mount Clemens, Michigan, United States

   

   Edison studied telegraphy with station agent James Mackenzie, training that opened his itinerant career as an operator. The chronology dates this presence to fall 1862.

4. Telegrapher at Stratford Junction

   1863-01-01 · Stratford Junction, Ontario, Canada

   

   Edison took a Grand Trunk Railway telegraph position at Stratford Junction, an early stop in his mobile operating career. The source specifies late spring through summer 1863. Coordinates use Stratford as a representative point because the historical junction's exact site is uncertain.

5. Works as a Boston telegrapher

   1868-01-01 · Boston, Massachusetts, United States

   Edison reached Boston as a professional telegrapher and increasingly redirected his efforts toward invention. The source supports arrival during 1868; the Edison Papers place the start of his main-office employment in March or April.

6. Moves to New York City

   1869-01-01 · New York City, New York, United States

   

   Edison moved to New York, where work on stock-reporting equipment produced his first major commercial success. The Edison Papers narrow the move to April–May 1869, but this source supports year precision.

7. Establishes Newark manufacturing base

   1871-01-01 · Newark, New Jersey, United States

   

   Edison established a Newark laboratory and manufacturing facility for stock tickers and improved telegraph equipment. Settlement coordinates are used because this source does not specify which of Edison's changing Newark premises.

8. Moves to Menlo Park laboratory

   1876-01-01 · Menlo Park, Edison, New Jersey, United States

   

   Edison moved to Menlo Park and established the research complex where the phonograph and his practical electric-lighting system emerged. Coordinates represent the historic laboratory site at present-day Edison State Park.

9. Demonstrates phonograph in Washington

   1878-04-01 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

   

   Edison presented his new speaking phonograph before the National Academy of Sciences during the Washington demonstrations that made him nationally famous. The Library of Congress dates the photograph to April 1878. Coordinates represent central Washington because the catalog record does not identify the presentation room.

10. Demonstrates phonograph at Mount St. Vincent

    1878-05-30 · Convent of Mount St. Vincent, Riverdale, New York, United States

    

    Edison and several associates demonstrated the phonograph at the Convent of Mount St. Vincent near Yonkers. Coordinates represent the historic Mount St. Vincent campus, now the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

11. Observes eclipse at Rawlins

    1878-07-29 · Rawlins, Wyoming, United States

    

    Edison joined the astronomical expedition at Rawlins and attempted to measure heat from the solar corona using his tasimeter. Settlement coordinates are used; the precise observation camp outside Rawlins is not established by the cited catalog record.

12. Visits San Francisco on western journey

    1878-08-01 · San Francisco, California, United States

    

    Following the eclipse expedition, Edison continued west to San Francisco during a six-week journey that also included Yosemite. The Edison Papers chronology places him in San Francisco on August 1–3; the cited overview supports August 1878 only.

13. Inspects mines at Virginia City

    1878-08-09 · Virginia City, Nevada, United States

    

    Edison spent the night in Virginia City and examined mining conditions, including underground heat and ventilation problems. Settlement coordinates represent Virginia City; the particular mine inspected is not identified.

14. Takes up residence in Manhattan

    1881-03-01 · Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

    

    Edison shifted his residence to New York City while directing the growing network of electric-light companies and manufacturing operations. Coordinates represent the vicinity of Edison's business offices at 65 Fifth Avenue, not a proven residential address.

15. Opens Sunbury three-wire station

    1883-07-04 · Sunbury, Pennsylvania, United States

    

    Edison attended the opening of the Sunbury village station, an early installation of his economical three-wire incandescent-lighting system. Settlement coordinates are used because the chronology does not identify a surviving exact station site.

16. Selects Fort Myers retreat

    1885-01-01 · Fort Myers, Florida, United States

    

    Edison and Gilliland reached Fort Myers, where Edison quickly purchased riverfront land for his future winter estate. The source supports 1885; another institutional account dates his nearby Punta Rassa arrival to March 15.

17. Arrives at Punta Rassa

    1885-03-15 · Punta Rassa, Florida, United States

    

    Edison reached Punta Rassa during his search with Ezra Gilliland for a warm-weather retreat on Florida's Gulf Coast. Coordinates represent Punta Rassa near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River.

18. Honeymoons at Fort Myers

    1886-01-01 · Seminole Lodge, Fort Myers, Florida, United States

    

    Edison returned to his newly built Fort Myers winter retreat with Mina during their honeymoon. A separate institutional chronology dates the stay from March 15 through April 26, but the cited page itself supports year precision.

19. Moves into Glenmont

    1886-01-01 · Glenmont, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, New Jersey, United States

    

    Edison made Glenmont his principal family home after his marriage to Mina; he remained associated with the estate for the rest of his life. The quote proves acquisition; the linked park history further states that Edison and his family moved into the house in 1886.

20. Marries Mina Miller in Akron

    1886-02-24 · Akron, Ohio, United States

    

    Edison married Mina Miller in her family's home city before departing for their Florida honeymoon. Settlement coordinates represent Akron; the quoted article supplies the exact date immediately before this sentence.

21. Works at Harrison lamp factory

    1886-11-01 · Edison Lamp Works, Harrison, New Jersey, United States

    

    Before the West Orange laboratory opened, Edison transferred his experimental operation to the Edison Lamp Works in Harrison. Coordinates represent Harrison; the precise footprint of the nineteenth-century lamp works is approximate.

22. Tours Europe and Paris Exposition

    1889-08-01 · Exposition Universelle, Paris, France

    

    Edison crossed the Atlantic with Mina Edison and Francis Upton, attended the Paris Exposition, and toured parts of France, Belgium, and Germany. The journey began August 3 and continued until his October 6 return. Coordinates represent the principal exposition area around the Eiffel Tower.

23. Works extensively at Ogden mine

    1891-06-01 · Ogden Mine, near Ogdensburg, New Jersey, United States

    

    Edison spent much of 1891 at the Ogden iron-concentrating works, developing mechanized crushing and magnetic separation processes. The presence continued from June through December. Coordinates represent the Ogdensburg mining district rather than a verified workstation.

24. Visits Chicago Columbian Exposition

    1893-08-01 · World's Columbian Exposition grounds, Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Edison visited Chicago with members of Mina's Miller family during the World's Columbian Exposition. The visit occurred during August–September 1893. Coordinates represent the exposition's Jackson Park grounds.

25. Returns to Seminole Lodge

    1901-02-27 · Seminole Lodge, Fort Myers, Florida, United States

    Edison began a family vacation at Seminole Lodge, his first documented visit to the winter home since 1887 and the start of more frequent stays. The date marks the beginning of the vacation.

26. Vacations across western North America

    1908-08-01 · Pacific Northwest and Canadian Rockies, United States and Canada

    Edison traveled with family through the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Rockies, a geographically extensive respite from his laboratory and manufacturing work. The source gives no itinerary. Coordinates are a deliberately broad representative point near the international boundary and do not denote a single documented stop.

27. Camps in the Everglades

    1914-01-01 · Everglades, Florida, United States

    Edison and Ford camped in the Everglades during the Florida visit that preceded their later Vagabonds automobile expeditions. The source does not identify the campsite. Coordinates are a representative point in the Everglades and should not be read as an exact location.

28. Hosts Ford and Burroughs at Fort Myers

    1914-01-01 · Seminole Lodge, Fort Myers, Florida, United States

    

    Edison was at his Fort Myers estate when Henry Ford and naturalist John Burroughs arrived for a visit that helped initiate the friends' celebrated outdoor journeys. The source supports the year but does not provide the arrival day.

29. Attends Panama-Pacific Exposition

    1915-01-01 · Panama-Pacific International Exposition grounds, San Francisco, California, United States

    

    Edison joined Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone in California for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and associated events held in his honor. The Edison Papers date his departure for California to October 14, 1915. Coordinates represent the exposition's Marina District grounds.

30. Drives from Riverside to San Diego

    1915-01-01 · Riverside–San Diego route, California, United States

    

    During the California trip, Edison and his companions visited Luther Burbank and traveled by automobile from Riverside to San Diego. Coordinates are a representative midpoint for the documented Riverside-to-San Diego journey, not an asserted stop.

31. Tours Adirondacks and Vermont

    1916-08-28 · Adirondack Mountains and Vermont, United States

    

    Edison traveled with John Burroughs and Harvey Firestone through the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont during the Vagabonds' 1916 vacation. The documented journey lasted from August 28 through September 9. Coordinates are representative of the regional itinerary.

32. Conducts experiments on Long Island Sound

    1917-01-01 · Long Island Sound, United States

    At age seventy Edison spent months aboard a borrowed naval vessel testing techniques for detecting enemy submarines. The Edison Papers date his work aboard USS Sachem from August 21 to October 6, 1917. Coordinates are a representative point in Long Island Sound.

33. Researches at Key West Naval Station

    1918-01-28 · U.S. Naval Station, Key West, Florida, United States

    Edison and Mina traveled to Key West, where they lived at the naval station while Edison continued wartime research through late April. Coordinates represent the historic Key West naval station area; the commandant-provided house is not precisely located.

34. Camps near Bolar Springs

    1918-08-21 · Camp Cheat, near Bolar Springs, Virginia, United States

    Edison camped with Ford, Firestone, and Burroughs at Camp Cheat during their automobile journey through the central Appalachian Mountains. The collection dates the associated campsite image to August 21, 1918. Coordinates represent Bolar Springs; the exact Camp Cheat position is uncertain.

35. Departs Green Island on Vagabonds trip

    1919-08-05 · Green Island, New York, United States

    Edison left Green Island with the Vagabonds automobile party during their 1919 journey through New York and New England. The cited collection material identifies Edison as a member of the photographed Vagabonds party.

36. Attends Harding funeral in Marion

    1923-08-01 · Marion, Ohio, United States

    

    Edison joined Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone at the funeral observances for President Warren G. Harding in Harding's Ohio hometown. Settlement coordinates represent Marion; the chronology does not specify the particular funeral venue.

37. Celebrates birthday at Fort Myers

    1929-02-11 · Seminole Lodge, Fort Myers, Florida, United States

    

    Edison celebrated his eighty-second birthday at his Fort Myers winter estate with President-elect Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone.

38. Dedicates Greenfield Village

    1929-10-21 · Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan, United States

    

    Edison attended the opening of Henry Ford's museum and Greenfield Village during the national Golden Jubilee celebration of incandescent lighting. The NPS timeline provides the exact date and identifies the reconstructed Menlo Park laboratory as part of the occasion.

39. Dies at Glenmont

    1931-10-18 · Glenmont, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, New Jersey, United States

    

    Edison died at his longtime Glenmont home in West Orange at age eighty-four and was subsequently buried on the estate.