Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Humphrey.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Edison Plaza Museum is housed in the historic Travis Street Substation, which opened in 1929 under Gulf States Utilities. The museum opened in 1982 under the guidance of W. Donham Crawford, the chairman of GSU. Mr. Crawford served on several boards related to Thomas Alva Edison during his lifetime and wanted to dedicate a museum to his memory here in Beaumont, TX. We now host a number of Edison related artifacts that are on permanent loan from the Charles Edison Fund, as well as several antique electronics that offer a glimpse into the past. The museum is a registered nonprofit, and our mission is “to focus attention on the many electrical inventions and innovations contributed by Thomas Alva Edison and expanded on by the electric industry towards the continuing objectives of improving the quality of life and opening the doors to a healthier and more prosperous tomorrow.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The museum has adapted with the times over the years. Starting as a museum dedicated to past, present, and future electronics. During 1999 it was given a facelift to be more Edison focused and to add in many hands-on exhibits. Lastly, around 2020 the museum renovated the upstairs to add an exhibit highlighting our collection of antique electronics. Our biggest struggle is that we are a small museum, and many people do not know that we are here, and have been for 40 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The Edison Plaza Museum is the only museum W. of the Mississippi that is dedicated to Thomas Edison. Our director works hard to develop temporary poster exhibits throughout the year to create unique experiences for visitors. We also host numerus tours for senior citizens and school groups. As well as, presenting several lectures at the Tyrrell Historical Library. Recently, we were given a grant to create a “traveling trunk” that will allow teachers to rent or set up an appointment to have the lesson in their classroom. This will help schools experience our mission without the added expense of a field trip. We are also currently fundraising to update our hands on features and hopefully add something new for future visitors. Our director strives to make the museum a place that visitors can enjoy time and time again.
Any big plans?
We are excited about our addition of the traveling trunk that should debut for the 2026-2027 school year. We are also working on a fundraising campaign that should help us to update the museum and make it a more tech friendly experience for newer generations.
Pricing:
- Free for all tours and events
- Suggested donation of $3/ person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.edisonmuseum.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edisonplazamuseum/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Edison-Museum/100083481392165/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@edisonplazamuseum
Image Credits
None
