West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Laboratory Complex
Edison National Historic Site, New Jersey
| — | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | — |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
1. The Laboratory Complex Marker
Building 5, the largest of the laboratory buildings, extends 250 feet along Lakeside Avenue. Henry Hudson Holly, architect of Thomas Edison’s home, planned this single, three-story building. But Holly’s building proved too small for Edison’s plans and four one-story structures were built with the main building in 1887. To an Edison associate, the complex was like “Heaven … certainly one of the finest in the world and the finest in the States.”
Over the years, structures were added to Edison’s laboratory complex. The first brick factories gave way to larger concrete factories like the one behind you. Smaller buildings were built and demolished to meet changing needs. Through all the changes, Edison’s 1887 buildings have remained intact.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. 40° 47.029′ N, 74° 14.058′ W. Marker is in West Orange, New Jersey, in Essex County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Lakeside Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Orange NJ 07052, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New Jersey’s North Jersey, in Greater Newark, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
this page online
More about this marker. The bottom of the marker contains two sketches of a potential laboratory complex, one done by Thomas Edison and the other by his architect. The caption reads “When first planning the West Orange laboratory in 1886, Edison sketched a single, three-story building surrounding a courtyard. Architect Henry Hudson Holly proposed a rectangular building 250 feet long and 50 feet wide.”
The upper right of the marker contains a photograph of the laboratory building, and has a caption of “The main laboratory building seen after construction in 1887. Compare this photograph with Henry Hudson Holly’s drawing and the building
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
2. The Laboratory Complex Marker
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers found at the Laboratory Complex of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.
Also see . . . Thomas Edison National Historical Park, New Jersey. Nation Park Service website. (Submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
3. The Laboratory Complex
Edison's three-story Main Laboratory can be seen in this photo behind the marker.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
4. The Laboratory Complex Marker
The main entrance to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park can be seen here in the left of the photo.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
5. The Laboratory Complex Marker (Rear View)
Taken from inside the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, this photo shows the marker at the corner of Main Street and Lakeside Avenue.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 6, 2009
6. The Laboratory Complex
Building 5 is seen here from the courtyard of the Laboratory Complex.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 900 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
