Louisville's Thomas Edison House is a tribute to the man Life magazine in 1997 called the Most Significant Person of the Millennium. Edison's life, during which he earned a mind-boggling 1,093 patents, serves as an inspiration and a testament to the love of learning and the joy of discovery. The house/museum is especially dedicated to sharing the Edison story with school children, and has developed educational programs for elementary-age students to enjoy. The programs highlight Edison's own love of learning and his drive to find a better way to do just about everything he encountered throughout his long and productive life.

"Genius is hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense."

Invention Convention

The Invention Convention has become Edison House's signature program. The Invention Convention is a learning module built around the process of inventing a new device or a new way to perform a task. Students develop their brainstorming, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while having fun and exhibiting their creativity. The program was started in 1992 by two teachers at Louisville's Brandeis Elementary School and now several schools participate annually. Thomas Edison House has coordinated the program since 1993.

Students keep an Inventor's Log explaining their invention and the steps they went through to conceive and develop it. Each student who participates receives an Invention Convention T-shirt. Schools may choose to host a judged competition for participants. Each participant creates an invention that fits into one of the following categories:

1. Best Invention (one in each grade level/age group)
2. Best Environmental Invention
3. Best Household Invention
4. Best Safety-Related Invention
5. Best Invention Providing Aid for the Physically Challenged

In addition, some of the winning inventions are placed on display at the museum's celebration of Edison's birthday in February.