Milan in Erie County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison

(1847-1931)

By Mike Wintermantel, March 6, 2010

1. Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

One of America's most prolific and important inventors, Thomas Alva Edison was born in this house in 1847. Designed by his father, Samuel Edison, a shingle maker by trade, this small gabled brick cottage was built in 1841. Though the Edisons moved to Port Huron, Michigan, in 1854, when he was seven, Edison cherished the memories of his early boyhood here and acquired the home from his sister's family in 1906. Edison's daughter Madeleine Edison Sloane opened the home to the public as a memorial to the great inventor in 1947, the centennial of his birth. It became a registered National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Erected 2002 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, The Edison Birthplace Association, Inc., and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 20-22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists.

Location. 41°

Thomas Alva Edison, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing front. image. Click for full size.

By Louis Bachrach, 1922

2. Thomas Alva Edison, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing front.

Original photographic print Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-105139], restored by Michel Vuijlsteke.

18′ N, 82° 36.267′ W. Marker is in Milan, Ohio, in Erie County. Marker is on North Edison Drive 0.1 miles north of Front Street, on the left when traveling north. This marker is located in front of the Edison Birthplace Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9 North Edison Drive, Milan OH 44846, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Edison Recalls Milan (a few steps from this marker); Milan Canal Basin (within shouting distance of this marker); Erie County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Milan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Camp Avery / County Seat (approx. 2.6 miles away); Huron County Court House 1913 (approx. 4 miles away); Norwalk West Main Street Historic District (approx. 4.1 miles away); Site of the Preston-Wickham Home (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milan.

Also see . . . Edison Birthplace Museum. (Submitted on January 27, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)

By Denise Boose, October 23, 2015

3. Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison Marker

By Denise Boose, October 23, 2015

4. Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison Marker

By Denise Boose, October 23, 2015

5. Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison Marker

Thomas A. Edison Birthplace has been designated a Registered National Historic Landmark under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the History of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service 1965

<i>Thomas A. Edison's Birthplace, Milan, Near Norwalk, O.</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

6. Thomas A. Edison's Birthplace, Milan, Near Norwalk, O.

<i>Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison, Milan, Ohio</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1920

7. Birthplace of Thomas A. Edison, Milan, Ohio

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 25, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 27, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on January 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 16, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6, 7. submitted on November 17, 2015. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.