Thomas Edison National Historical Park

11/06/2026

Across the National Park System, memorials, monuments and historic landscapes preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed. From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the newly dedicated Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, these places invite us to reflect on the people behind the history.

Beyond the memorials, historic battlefields, military forts and other sites across the country help tell the stories of generations who served. On Veterans Day, take time to visit a place of remembrance, discover a story you didn't know, and honor those who served.

Explore places that commemorate America's military history: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

Image: Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Raptors in Flight. NPS/Brodsky

11/06/2026

11/05/2026

The histories, cultures, and living traditions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander communities are an important part of the stories told across our national parks.

Throughout the year, and during November’s Native American Heritage Month, explore the stories, places, and cultural heritage preserved and shared in national parks and communities across the country: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/native-american-heritage-month.htm

NPS Photo

11/04/2026

It’s leaf-peeping season. The trees have made an effort, so the least we can do is go outside and stare at them.

Leaf peeping is the ancient human tradition of traveling long distances to look at leaves, take photographs, and stand in the middle of roads while saying, “Oh, wow, look at that one.”

Nobody knows exactly when this became a major event, but the trees seem okay with the arrangement. So get out there and see what all the rustle is about.

NPS photos

11/04/2026

As Veterans Day approaches, take a moment to honor those who have served our country. One way to celebrate their service is by helping them discover the places and stories that make our nation's public lands special.

U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families are eligible for a free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass, providing free access to federal recreation lands where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged.

From the quiet beauty of a mountain trail to the stories preserved at historic sites, our public lands offer opportunities to explore, reflect, learn, and connect with the places that help tell America's story.

Learn how to get your pass and start planning your next adventure: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: Korean War Veterans Memorial at National Mall & Memorial Parks /NPS

11/02/2026

Hello darkness, my old friend. Now you start at 5:00 pm.

With daylight saving time behind us, the sun is clocking out a littler earlier. Just as before, if you’re heading to a national park, make sure and check park hours, trail conditions, weather forecasts, and sunset times.

Fun fact: admiring fall foliage is much more enjoyable when you’re not trying to navigate a trail in the dark while wondering which tree looks familiar.

NPS photo

11/02/2026

11/02/2026

🦋 Imagine flying thousands of miles to make it home for a family reunion. Monarch butterflies do it every year.

Every fall, two journeys come together. As millions of monarch butterflies travel south on one of nature's greatest migrations, families gather to honor loved ones during Day of the Dead or Día de los Mu***os.

For many communities, the arrival of the monarchs is more than a sign of the changing season. These butterflies are seen as messengers, symbolizing the return of loved ones in spirit and serving as a beautiful reminder of the enduring connections between generations.

Traveling thousands of miles across North America, they depend on healthy habitats, including in parks, to rest, feed, and continue their journey.

What animal makes you feel connected to your family or community?

Several parks across the country host cultural Day of the Dead programming, including San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, among others.

NPS Photo taken at Amistad National Recreation Area

11/02/2026

Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old tradition that honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Its roots stretch back to Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, where ancestors were remembered through ritual, art, and celebration. When the Spanish arrived in what is now Texas, these native customs merged with Catholic traditions like All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day; creating the vibrant holiday we know today.

At San Antonio Missions, you can see this cultural fusion come to life. From colorful altars adorned with marigolds and candles to music, food, and stories, the park reflects how Spanish and Indigenous traditions shaped communities along the San Antonio River.

Come explore mission descendant ofrendas/ Day of the Dead altars while they are still inside the Mission San Jose granary for a few more days!

NPS Photo/ Andrew Shirey

10/31/2026

This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins* scream in the dead of night!

Happy Halloween!

*No pumpkins have been observed screaming in national parks. You may be hearing a coyote, bobcat, fox, owl, or that marmot looking for Alan…or was it Steve?

Image: Boo! Carved jack-o’-lantern with ranger hat at Hartwell Tavern at Minute Man National Historical Park

09/27/2026

Tours of Edison's estate, Glenmont are suspended today, Sunday September 27, due to local weather conditions. Glenmont grounds will not be accessible. The Laboratory Complex will be open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. We apologize for any inconvenience the tour cancellation may cause.

Image: National Park Service arrowhead with words Thomas Edison National Historical Park Park Alert.

09/14/2026

Entrance to Thomas Edison NHP is fee free this Thursday, September 17 in observance of Constitution Day. Come visit Edison's lab, where he and his team changed the world.

Image: black and white photo of late 19th century machine shop with text reading "Fee Free Day September 17 at Thomas Edison NHP." Photo credit: NPS

08/31/2026

When Thomas Edison proposed to his second wife, Mina Miller, he gave her the choice of a home for their family: a townhouse in New York City, or a country estate. She chose Glenmont, a Queen Anne-style mansion in what was then rural New Jersey, and they moved there after their wedding in 1886.

Edison saw the potential of building his next – and final – laboratory just down the hill, with plenty of surrounding land to build factories to manufacture his products. The laboratory opened in late 1887.

Image: Thomas Edison NHP Historical Photo Collection

08/25/2026

Teachers, bring the power of invention to life for your students at Thomas Edison’s lab! We’re now taking field trip reservations for September through December 2026. Students will learn about Edison’s idea-to-product process as they tour the lab where he worked, then work in teams on their own inventions. For more information, visit https://ow.ly/RqzK50ZA9KR

08/22/2026

It’s National Park Week! Whether you’re with us to discover the groundbreaking work of Thomas Edison and his team or you’re at one of our sister parks, we invite you to celebrate America’s story.

We extend a special invitation for youngsters to join us at Thomas Edison NHP on Sunday, August 30 for Junior Ranger Day! Participate in our Junior Ranger tour or fill out our worksheet on your own and earn a badge.

08/20/2026

Dust off your silent movie acting skills and join us on Sunday, August 30 as historic filmmaking returns to the Black Maria! The cinema arts organization MONO NO AWARE will demonstrate historic filmmaking techniques at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm; tickets to participate will be available at our Visitor Center that day on a first-come basis.

All films developed will be shown at 4:30 pm that day, using historic camera equipment.

Image: NPS Photo

08/12/2026

West Orange and Menlo Park are the best known of Edison’s New Jersey laboratories, but he kept experimental spaces in many of the places where he worked and did business as an inventor. Among those were a back room of another inventor’s shop in Jersey City, several locations in Newark, and rooms at his lamp works in Harrison. He also kept an extensive lab at his winter home in Fort Myers, FL.

Image credit: NPS

07/27/2026

Thomas Edison had a longstanding interest in stored energy and was among the first to explore ways to make batteries for the consumer market. His interest in powering electric automobiles spurred him to experiment with alkaline electrolytes to make a reliable lightweight battery. The Edison battery took ten years to perfect, during which time gas-powered cars took over the marketplace. Nonetheless, Edison’s reliable nickel-iron battery found a ready market in the railroad and mining industries, among others.

Image Description: Thomas Edison stands with an early 20th-century electric car with a sign about a 1000-mile endurance run with Edison storage batteries. Two men are seated in car.

Photo Credit: Thomas Edison NHP Archive/NPGallery

07/23/2026

Today, Sandy Hook at Gateway National Recreation Area is a popular spot for beachgoers, birders and historians alike, but during World War I, it was a research destination for Thomas Edison’s team. As part of his work with the Naval Consulting Board, Edison conducted experiments at the U.S. Proving Ground there in 1917 and 1918, including work on a range finder, a submarine detector and a way of protecting ships by obstructing torpedoes with a net.

Image Description: Hand-drawn diagram illustrating conditions for good silhouette vision with notes on sky clarity, observer position, and periscope use.

Photo credit: Thomas A. Edison Papers, Rutgers University

07/13/2026

If you've visited Edison's vast West Orange Laboratory library, you might have wondered how the books are cared for. Our Cultural Resources team is in the process of inventorying the library collection, recording each book's condition and using a special vacuum to gently remove dust that has built up since the last inventory. This work helps preserve the collection so visitors can experience a view of the library much the way Edison and his team did, with the reference volumes of their time.

Image: Person wearing gloves writing on a clipboard at a table with two historic books.

Photo credit: NPS photo