Historical Marker
First Physician
Historical marker location:
2985 W. 73rd Place, Merrillville, Indiana
( Marker is on 73rd Place, on the left when traveling west.)
Marker installed: 1949
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.