Lewis Latimer House in Flushing celebrated its namesake’s 178th birthday on Saturday, Sept. 19, honoring the American inventor’s legacy and his contributions to the lightbulb, telephone and other modern technologies.

This year’s event also honored the legacy of Winifred Latimer Norman, Latimer’s granddaughter, whose advocacy helped saved his historic home from demolition in the 1980s.
Kids participate in crafts and hands-on activities.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Attendees gathered for the family-friendly celebration on Sept. 19 to enjoy various festivities, including an interactive performance led by the Kingdom Dance Company — part of the Queensboro Dance Festival — a virtual reality experience with Local 3 and guided tours of the museum.

Families participated in hands-on activities in the spirit of Latimer, such as circuit and conductivity activities with the New York Hall of Science, STEAM inventions with recyclable materials led by KoKo NYC, community steward badge-making with the Queens Botanical Garden and an activity inspired by the borough’s history with the Queens Museum.

Teaching artist Charanya Ramakrishnan, of the Louis Armstrong House Museum, also hosted a “Polaroid Personal Archive” activity.
Lewis Latimer House in Flushing.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Ran Yan, executive director of Lewis Latimer House, said one of the reasons why the celebration featured so many hands-on activities is because Latimer himself valued those cultural components and nurtured people’s innovative spirit.

“[Latimer’s] legacy is incredibly important to Queens and to every American, because as a Black American born to enslaved Virginians, he made important contributions to the electric lighting technology,” Yan emphasized. “He made home here in Queens as part of the community and was really active in giving back to people around him. We really want to tell his story to more people, as he isn’t as well known today as he should be.”

Council Member Sandra Ung, left, with Ran Yan, executive director of Lewis Latimer House.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

The event was sponsored by the Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the New York City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts, NewYork-Presbyterian, Resorts World, Ponce Bank, the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation and the Simons Foundation.

Additional resources were supplied by local organizations including Queens Public Library, Local 3 and Henry Street Settlement.
Representatives from the Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards gave out community resources to attendees.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Latimer, born in 1848 to fugitive slaves, was an inventor and draftsman who worked alongside Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. 

While many attribute the invention of the lightbulb solely to Edison, Latimer created and patented a carbon filament manufacturing process that made the invention more practical and less expensive.

He also invented an evaporative air conditioner and an improved toilet system for railroad cars, among other patented designs.

At the time of his death, Latimer was living in Flushing, Queens, which is where the historic house museum sits today.

For more information about Lewis Latimer House, visit LewisLatimerHouse.org.
Signage inside Lewis Latimer House.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Henry Street Settlement.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
NewYork-Presbyterian.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Ponce Bank.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Queens Botanical Garden.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Guests tour the museum.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud