The museum building was formerly the Gulf States Utilities Travis Street Power Substation.

[1] According to the Texas State Historical Marker in front of the substation building, the substation provided power ranging from street lights to cotton gins to rice irrigation to refineries in spite of The Great Depression.

[2] "...The museum is the only facility of its kind west of the Mississippi River..."[3] Interactive exhibits about Edison, his inventions and innovations, as well as historic artifacts from his life are featured.

Featured inventions include the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and some of Edison's early motion pictures.

The collection origin is tied to W. Donham Crawford, former CEO of Gulf States Utilities.