New Albany

Historical marker location:

402 Woodrow Avenue, New Albany, Indiana

( Marker is on East Spring Street (Old Indiana Route 62) just east of Woodrow Avenue, on the right when traveling west.)

Marker installed: 1992

The first public demonstration of the electric light bulb was given by Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, New Jersey, but the first practical incandescent light bulb was invented by Lewis Howard Latimer, who was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, but lived in Indiana for a time. Latimer was also the first African American to be employed as an engineer by the U.S. Patent Office.