Thomas Edison Depot Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 520 State St., Port Huron, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001397 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1977 |
The Thomas Edison Depot Museum is a cool place to visit in Port Huron, Michigan. It used to be a train station called the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot. Now, it's a museum where you can learn about the famous inventor, Thomas Edison. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Contents
History of the Depot
When Was the Depot Built?
The Canadian Grand Trunk Railway Company built this station in 1858. It was first known as the Gratiot Railway Station. This building was very important for people moving from Canada to the United States.
How Many Immigrants Passed Through?
By 1869, about 42,000 immigrants had traveled through this station. It was a busy place for new arrivals to the country.
Thomas Edison's Early Job
A young Thomas Edison lived near this station. From 1859 to 1863, he worked here as a news butcher. This meant he sold newspapers, snacks, and other items to passengers on the trains. This job helped him learn a lot about business and travel.
Later Changes to the Building
In 1907, a bigger, two-story station was built to replace this older one. The new station was used until 1971. Around the mid-1920s, the original 1858 depot was changed into office space. The Peerless Cement Company used it for their offices.
What is the Thomas Edison Depot Museum?
When Did the Museum Open?
The Port Huron Museum opened the Thomas Edison Depot Museum in this building in 2001. It's a special museum because it's the actual train station where Thomas Edison worked.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum is owned and run by the Port Huron Museum. Inside, you can see a restored baggage car on a short piece of railroad track. The museum also has items found from an archaeological dig at Edison's childhood home. His home burned down in 1870.
You can also hear original Edison phonographs playing music and voices. See the world's largest light bulb and learn all about the early life of this famous inventor.
What Does the Depot Look Like?
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot is a single-story building. It has a rectangular shape and seven sections. It is located close to the Blue Water Bridge. The building has wooden siding on the outside.
The roof is low and gabled, meaning it has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. The roof is held up by nicely carved brackets. The building has different kinds of windows, including round openings. These round windows show off the elegant Italian Villa Style of the building.
See also
