In 1882, Edison opened the first commercial electric power plant in New York City. This power plant provided electricity to homes and businesses in the city, and it helped to make electric lighting a practical and affordable technology. Edison also developed the first electric light bulb that could last for over 1,000 hours. This made electric lighting a viable alternative to gas lighting, and it helped to accelerate the electrification of the world.
In addition to his work on electric lighting, Edison also made important contributions to other fields, such as telephony, motion pictures, and recorded sound. He developed the first practical phonograph, which allowed people to record and play back sound. He also developed the first motion picture camera and projector, and he helped to establish the motion picture industry.
Edison was a prolific inventor and a successful businessman. He held over 1,000 patents, and he founded a number of companies that changed the world. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of technology.
In addition to his work as an inventor, Edison was also a philanthropist and a public figure. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He was also a trustee of the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Edison died in 1931 at the age of 84. He is considered one of the most important and influential figures in history.