Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory, when machines were run by belts and pulleys and music was played on phonographs. Discover where America’s greatest inventor changed our world forever.
About under an hour from New York and 2 hours from Philadelphia by car.
Alerts
- CautionGlenmont Heat Advisory
The house at Glenmont is currently experiencing high heat conditions. As a result, house tours may be abbreviated or canceled due to safety concerns.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Education/Academic GroupsTHIS GUIDED WALKING TOUR IS FOR Elementary, Middle, and College Groups to learn about Thomas Edison’s West Orange Laboratory as a working invention factory where ideas became products, and those products became industries we all enjoy today. | $10 | |
| Per PersonChildren 15 and under free of charge. Visitors may pay the fee on the day of their visit at the visitor center, or may choose to pay it online via Recreation.gov. Visitors to Glenmont and the Edison home must also pay this entrance fee. Credit or debt card payments only. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkValid ONLY at Thomas Edison National Historical Park for 12 months from the date of purchase. Permits the cardholder and 3 adult guests' entrance (16 years and older, children 15 and younger are free). Includes Laboratory Complex and Glenmont Estate. All visitors must begin their visit at the Laboratory Complex. Please note: this does not guarantee entry into the mansion at Glenmont. | $45 | |
Entrance Fees are $15.00 for adults 16 years of age and older; children 15 and younger are free - Credit or Debit Card only. You can purchase entry fees when you arrive at the Visitor Center. This same entry fee is required for entry to the Glenmont estate. A guided tour of Glenmont is a separate ticket - please see below.
Hours
| Laboratory Complex | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1 to Feb 25, 2027Winter Closure | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
When to go
June draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Laboratory Complex Visitor CenterPassport stamp
All visitors must begin at the Laboratory Complex. The park is closed to the public from January through mid-March.
No campgrounds, no webcams, no things to do or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
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Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Weather & climate
Spring and Fall weather can be cool, while summer is usually warm and humid. Winter is frequently snowy and cold. It is recommended that visitors dress for the weather. Visitors may need jackets or rain gear as they will be walking between buildings as they tour the park during inclement weather. Please keep any rain gear/umbrellas with you during your visit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Thomas Edison?
Entrance is $15 per person on foot or bike. Children 15 and under free of charge.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Thomas Edison?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Thomas Edison-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Thomas Edison takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Thomas Edison free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Thomas Edison?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Thomas Edison. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Thomas Edison?
Standard hours are 9:30AM - 4:30PM on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Thomas Edison right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Glenmont Heat Advisory.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Thomas Edison?
22,370 recreation visits in 2025, number 320 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Thomas Edison?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Thomas Edison?
Spring and Fall weather can be cool, while summer is usually warm and humid. Winter is frequently snowy and cold.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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