Lewis Latimer House — Attraction in New York

A fascinating piece of African-American and engineering history right in Queens. Interestingly, the current location was not the original site of the house, which was in danger of being torn down in the later part of the last century. The group that saved it arranged for it to be transported to its current location where it has its own small parking lot for visitors.

Opt for the guided tour, like we did, to get more insight into the many talents and roles of Lewis H. Latimer and his family. I knew a bit about him before this visit but didn't realize that there's a law named for his father who had been enslaved in Virginia: Latimer Law is the 1843 Massachusetts Personal...

Lewis Latimer was the son of escaped slaves. He had limited formal education but was a brilliant person. He was a gifted draftsman, inventor, artist and writer. He is responsible for perfecting the filament used in light bulbs to make them viable. He also electrified several cities. The Latimer House is his residence which is now a museum and an educational space. It is part of the NYC Parks Department. It is accessible to public transportation. Parking is available...

I went to this on the open house New York weekend. It was an inspirational visit. A guide takes you through the rooms downstairs and gives an overview of Latimer's life. There are great informative posters in the walls to supplement the tour. Though you don't get to go upstairs it is still a wonderful experience. Parking was easy on a Sunday in the street. Definitely worth a visit to learn about an...