Forbes: Edison is America's top innovator

MILAN — In your face, Benjamin Franklin. Not this time, Henry Ford. In honor of the America 250 celebration, Forbes magazine recently published its list of America's Greatest Historic Innovators, and it listed Thomas Edison at No. 1. The Milan native, who lived from 1837 to 1931, was cited by Forbes for inventions that changed American life. "The father of the R&D lab produced a practical light bulb, championed DC electricity and invented the movie camera and phonograph," Forbes noted. In the Forbes listing, Franklin comes in second place with Ford third, Steve Jobs in fourth and Walt Disney at No. 5. Visitors in Milan can stop at the Edison Birthplace Museum to learn more about him. Robert Wheeler, president of the Edison Birthplace Association, said Forbes clearly made the right call. "He transformed the world, he and his team," Wheeler said. Edison not only came up with many famous inventions, but he also pioneered a system of developing technology with the first research and development lab with his Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey, Wheeler said. That anticipates later research facilities such as Xerox PARC in California, which developed the graphical user interface for computers and other innovations adopted by the likes of Jobs. To celebrate Edison topping its poll, Forbes also reprinted a June 15, 1929, interview with Edison, featuring predictions that have aged well. "Edison believes the time is coming when mankind will draw electrical energy on a large scale directly from the sun," the 1929 article noted. "As you may know, we are solar powered at the office of the Edison birthplace," Wheeler said. The Edison Birthplace Museum is located at 9 North Edison Drive in Milan. Hours vary according to the season, but in July, it's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Guided tours are regularly offered. For more information, please visit tomedison.org.