In 1811, the Edison family migrated from Nova Scotia to Vienna, Ontario, where Edison's grandfather, Captain Samuel Edison, served with the British in the War of 1812.

Nancy Elliott Edison, mother of Thomas Alva Edison, bought the lot on which their house stands in 1841. The house was later built by Nancy and Samuel Edison, designed by Samuel, in the fall of the same year.

Thomas Edison, an American inventor and businessman, was born in 1847. He is best known for his inventions such as the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the long-lasting electric light bulb.

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. He would later become one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding over 1,000 patents.

Edison's family moves to Port Huron, Michigan.

At the age of 8, Thomas Edison started school, but he was expelled for asking too many questions. Following this, his mother took over his education. His schooling was delayed due to scarlet fever.

Thomas Edison, the renowned inventor and businessman, was born in 1856.

Thomas Edison attends school briefly, but his teachers perceive him as not very bright. His mother takes on the role of teaching him at home, and he begins to self-educate and read extensively.

Between 1859 and 1863, Thomas Edison worked as a newspaper and sundries seller on a train route between Port Huron, Michigan, and Detroit. This experience allowed him to develop his entrepreneurial skills at a young age.

Edison begins work as a telegraph operator in Port Huron.

Edison obtains a telegraph job for the Grand Trunk Railway in Ontario and returns to the U.S. as a telegraph operator.

From 1864 to 1867, Thomas Edison worked as a traveling telegrapher, gaining valuable knowledge and experience in the field of telegraphy, which would later influence his inventions.

At the age of 19, Thomas Edison started working for Western Union as a telegrapher in Louisville. This marked the beginning of his career in telegraphy, which eventually led to his remarkable achievements in communication and technology.

While working with a battery, Thomas Edison accidentally spilled sulphuric acid, which led to his dismissal from Western Union. This event, although a setback, did not deter him from pursuing his passion for experimentation and innovation.

On October 11, 1868, Thomas Edison made his first invention.

In January 1869, Thomas Edison resigned from his job at the Western Union office in Boston, with the intention of focusing fulltime on inventing.

In June 1869, Thomas Edison received a patent for the electric vote recorder, which was his first invention to be patented.

After moving to New York City, Thomas Edison was allowed to sleep in a room at Samuel Laws' Gold Indicator Company and was eventually hired to manage and improve the printer machines after fixing a broken machine there.

In October 1869, Thomas Edison formed the organization Pope, Edison and Co. with Franklin L. Pope and James Ashley. They focused on electrical engineering and constructing electrical devices, and received several patents for improvements to the telegraph.

In 1870, Thomas Edison opened his first workshop in Newark, New Jersey, marking a significant milestone in his career as an inventor and entrepreneur.

On December 25, 1871, Thomas Edison married Mary Stilwell, a personal event that had a profound impact on his life and career.

In 1871, Thomas Edison invented a stock printer, which marked his first successful invention.

In February 1873, Thomas Edison and Mary Stilwell welcomed their first child, Marion.

On February 24, Edison married Mina Miller.

In 1875, Thomas Edison invented the Electric Pen, which was a device for making copies of documents. It used a small electric motor to drive a perforating needle that would punch holes in a paper, allowing ink to seep through and create a copy.

In January 1876, Thomas Edison and Mary Stilwell's son, Thomas Jr., was born. Edison affectionately nicknamed the children 'Dot' and 'Dash.'

In March 1876, Thomas Edison moves to a new laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his workers also relocate with him.

In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, a device capable of recording and reproducing sound.

On August 12, 1877, Thomas Edison married Mary Stilwill. They had three children named Marion Estelle Edison, Thomas Alva Edison Jr., and William Leslie Edison.

On November 21, 1877, Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph.

On December 24, 1877, Thomas Edison developed the tin foil cylinder phonograph, for which he filed a patent that was awarded on February 19, 1878, revolutionizing the recording and playback of sound.

The Edison Electric Light Co. was formed on November 15, 1878, with the backing of financiers to carry out experiments with electric lights and to control any resulting patents. Edison received a large share of stock in return for handing over his patents to the company.

In 1879, Thomas Edison successfully tested his first light bulb, a pivotal moment in the history of electricity and lighting technology.

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879, which impressed many people. His laboratory was filled with light bulbs, showcasing the impact of this invention.

In 1880, Thomas Edison discovers a phenomenon which is later termed the 'Edison Effect'.

In 1881, Thomas Edison set up an electric light factory in East Newark to further develop and produce electric lighting systems.

The Pearl Street Power Station, located in New York, NY, became the first commercial power station in the United States. It supplied electricity for Edison's light bulbs using direct current (DC) power, as Edison believed that alternating current (AC) was too dangerous.

On August 9, 1884, Thomas Edison's wife, Mary, passes away.

On December 25, 1884, Thomas Edison's wife passed away, marking a significant personal loss for the renowned inventor.

Two years after the death of his first wife, Edison marries Mina Miller in Akron, Ohio. They later move into Glenmont, a large estate in West Orange, New Jersey, where they reside for the rest of Edison's life.

In 1887, Edison developed the New Phonograph using a wax cylinder. The Edison Phonograph Co. was also formed in October, and Edison moved to a larger and more modern laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey.

On January 27, Edison forms the National Phonograph Co. with the purpose of manufacturing phonographs for home use.

The Vitascope is publicly exhibited at Koster & Bial's Music Hall on April 23 to great acclaim.

On May 31, Edison's daughter, Madeleine, is born.

Jesse H. Lippincott assumes control of phonograph companies by forming the North American Phonograph Co. on July 14.

On October 8, Edison files his first caveat on the Kinetoscope and Kinetograph, with William Kennedy Laurie Dickson assigned to work on the project.

Two years prior to 1891, Thomas Edison gifted Gustave Eiffel a phonograph, leading to innovative audio recordings.

On May 20, 1891, Thomas Edison demonstrated a peep-hole viewing machine to participants from the National Federation of Women's Clubs. This event showcased Edison's innovative technology and its potential entertainment value.

In 1892, the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston resulted in the formation of General Electric. This consolidation marked a significant development in the history of electric technology and industry.

The first public demonstration of Edison's 1 1/2" system of Kinetoscope took place at the Brooklyn Institute on May 9.

In 1894, Thomas Edison filmed a short clip of two cats boxing in his Black Maria studio in New Jersey using his Kinetograph. This scene is one of the many early motion pictures recorded by Edison and his team.

Edison puts the Edison Manufacturing Co. in charge of the manufacture and sale of Kinetoscopes and films on April 1.

The first Kinetoscope parlor opened in midtown Manhattan on April 14.

On November 30, Edison introduces the Projecting Kinetoscope or Projectoscope in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Dickson leaves Edison's employ on April 2.

After Thomas Edison's death, Charles Edison took over the company.

The Vitascope, a projector developed by Thomas Armat and Charles Francis Jenkins and marketed under Edison's name, premiered on April 23, 1896, to great acclaim.

In August 1897, Thomas Edison began sending positive paper prints of motion pictures for copyright deposit to the Library of Congress, marking an important step in the preservation of early cinema.

In October 1897, James White was hired to head the Kinetograph Department at the Edison Manufacturing Company, contributing to the development of motion picture technology.

In December 1897, Thomas Edison began legal battles against other producers and exhibitors whom he charged with infringement, marking the start of significant legal disputes in the film industry.

On July 10, 1898, Theodore Miller Edison, the son of Thomas Edison, was born, contributing to the legacy of the Edison family.

In 1899, the Edison Manufacturing Company introduced the Edison Concert Phonograph, a significant advancement in audio recording technology.

On May 5, 1900, the Edison Manufacturing Company was incorporated, marking a pivotal moment in the company's history and its impact on technological innovation.

In January 1901, the nation's first indoor, glass-enclosed film studio for the Edison Co. in New York was completed. This studio marked a significant advancement in the film industry.

In July 1901, the U.S. Circuit Court recognized Edison's motion picture patent claims in his suit. This legal recognition solidified Edison's contributions to the motion picture industry.

On March 10, 1902, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court's decision, essentially disallowing Edison from having a monopoly on motion picture apparatus. This legal decision had a significant impact on the film industry.

The Business Phonograph was introduced, leading to the popularity of Nickelodeons in Chicago and other urban areas.

Edison became the owner of his birthplace in 1906, signifying his connection to the historical property.

The Amberol Record, a cylinder that could play as long as four minutes, was introduced, revolutionizing the recording industry.

Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was reorganized in 1910.

The Edison Disc Phonograph was shown in public for the first time in 1911.

Edison introduced an unbreakable cylinder record, named the Blue Amberol, at roughly the same time he entered the disc phonograph market in 1912.

The Blue Amberol, an unbreakable cylinder with superior sound, was introduced for sale alongside the Edison Disc Phonograph.

A devastating fire engulfs most of the factories surrounding the West Orange laboratories on December 9, 1914. Despite the destruction, Thomas Edison, aged 67 at the time, expresses determination to rebuild and continue his work.

During World War I, Thomas Edison was appointed as the head of the Naval Consulting Board in 1915, aiming to integrate science into the government's defense program. Despite being mainly an advisory board, it played a significant role in establishing a laboratory for the Navy in 1923, although some of Edison's recommendations were not implemented.

In 1916, Thomas Edison goes on the first of several camping trips with friends including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs.

A detail of Thomas A. Edison's 70th birthday was captured in Edison Amberola Monthly, March 1917, showcasing notable figures such as Mr. R. A. Bachman, Mr. Henry Ford, Mrs. Edison, Mr. Charles Edison, and Mr. C. H. Wilson.

The motion picture studio ceased production in February, and it was sold on March 30 to the Lincoln & Parker Film Co.

On his last visit in 1923, Edison was shocked to find his old home still lighted by lamps and candles, reflecting the technological advancements since his time of residence.

Edison resigned as president of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and became chairman of the board during this year, with his son, Charles, taking over as president.

On October 20, 1928, Thomas Edison received the Congressional Gold Medal, along with other prestigious awards.

In 1929, Thomas Edison created programs for radio on long-playing discs, which were first used by radio station WAAM of Newark, New Jersey on April 4. This innovation revolutionized the way radio programs were produced and distributed.

The United States Congress honored Thomas Edison by awarding him a Congressional gold medal on May 21, recognizing his significant contributions to science and innovation.

On October 21, 1929, Thomas Edison visited the grand opening of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. His close friend Henry Ford had rebuilt the wooden Menlo Park laboratory, even moving the dirt from the original lab site in New Jersey. This event took place just before the start of the Great Depression.

In 1931, Thomas Edison passed away at the age of 84, with Tesla expressing a negative opinion about him in The New York Times.

In October 14, 1931, Thomas Edison lapsed into a coma due to a series of ailments that had been causing his health to decline for the last two years.

On October 18, 1931, Thomas Edison passed away in West Orange. His death marked the end of an era and had a profound impact on the fields of technology and innovation.

The Edison Birthplace Museum opened on the centennial of the inventor’s birth in 1947, serving as a memorial and museum to honor his legacy.

On September 5, 1962, the National Park Service combined Thomas Edison's home and laboratory into a single national park called Edison National Historic Site. This was a significant recognition of Edison's contributions to science and innovation.

The Omnibus Public Land Act of 2009 designated the area as Thomas Edison National Historical Park, recognizing the significance of Thomas Edison's work and preserving his legacy.