Skip to Main Content

Test tube holding Edison's last breath.

Thomas Edison's Last Breath

Field review by the editors.

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford believed that the human soul exited the body with its last breath. So it was with mixed feelings that we discovered this oddball artifact in Henry Ford's Museum & Greenfield Village.

Ford somehow convinced Thomas Edison's son to sit by the dying inventor's bedside, clamp a test tube over his mouth, then plug it with a cork. Maybe Ford's intentions were noble, and he expected future scientists to reconstitute Edison from the aether. Or -- maybe Henry just liked having Mr. Light Bulb dangling from his rear-view mirror.

Update: Tipster Gavin reports: "Edison's Last Breath has been moved to right inside the front door! It's easy to miss if you don't know where to look. It's inside the display case straight in front of you if you enter through the main entrance to the museum."

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Address:
20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI
Directions:
I-94 to northbound Southfield Fwy/Hwy 39, then to exit 4, Oakwood Blvd. Left on Oakwood.
Hours:
Daily 9:30-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
313-982-6001
Admission:
Adults $30 museum, $33 Greenfield Village.
RA Rates:
The Best
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Ford Rouge Factory TourFord Rouge Factory Tour, Dearborn, MI - < 1 mi.
World's Largest TireWorld's Largest Tire, Allen Park, MI - 3 mi.
Gas Tank BasketballGas Tank Basketball, River Rouge, MI - 4 mi.
In the region:
Big Milker in Ypsi, Ypsilanti, MI - 19 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Michigan

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Michigan.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Michigan Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights