In the United States Capitol, just south of the rotunda, sits the National Statuary Hall, a collection of 100 sculptures of prominent Americans. On Wednesday, the collection got a little bit brighter, thanks to the dedication of a new statue of Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, the phonograph, the motion picture camera and more.
The Edison statue is one of two representing the state of Ohio; the other belongs to former President James A. Garfield. (Former Gov. William Allen’s statue was removed to make room for the inventor.) Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, in 1847 and lived there for the first seven years of his life.
“Edison had this uniquely American combination: He knew both how to self-promote and how to build a great team,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan at the ceremony. “Edison, with his low-key brilliance and his leader-driven teambuilding, reflects that American contradiction, that American tradition, really—of democratic excellence—just as the people of Ohio do too.”
Edison was first chosen for the statue in 2010 by votes at various Ohio historic sites. In 2012, the Ohio General Assembly made the move official.
“His life and accomplishments embody not only our history, but also the spirit of our state that continues to this day,” said Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. “We are a state of inventors and pioneers—of dreamers and creators, always reaching for the next frontier.”
The dedication was attended by Ryan, Brown, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Rob Portman.
The statue itself, created by sculptor Alan Cottrill of Zanesville, Ohio, shows Edison holding up his most famous invention: the incandescent light bulb. With this innovation, he created an entirely new technology that continues to evolve to this day.
“Thomas Edison is not a guy who was destined for greatness,” Portman said. “He was near deaf, he was the son of a shingle maker and a school teacher. … But he had something other kids didn’t have: he had an amazing work ethic and he had this determination and perseverance and will to succeed.”
About The Author
Matthew Kraus was formerly the director of communications at NECA and senior editor of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR for five years. He can be reached at [email protected].