How much do you really know about lighting? I’m not talking about the technical side of things like defining “key terms”. I’m talking about the history of lighting innovation. I mean, sure, you’ve probably heard of names like Edison, Franklin, and Tesla, but how many of you can say you know Holonyak or understand why his contributions were just as big as those three? I’d bet my favorite socks that you can't.  

Join us as we trace the history of American lighting innovation and shine a light on the unsung inventors who changed the way we see the world. 

Lewis Latimer 

One of Edison’s key collaborators, whose name is far less known than other inventors, was Lewis Latimer, the son of formerly enslaved parents and a self-taught draftsman/inventor. Latimer improved Edison’s design by developing a carbon filament that lasted significantly longer and was more affordable to produce. His work made electric lighting more practical and accessible for everyday Americans, playing a major role in its widespread adoption. 

Charles Francis Brush 

Before Edison’s bulb became mainstream, Charles F. Brush, an Ohio-born inventor, developed a reliable and commercially viable arc lighting system in the 1870s. His arc lamps were among the first used for public street lighting in cities like Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New York. Brush’s contributions helped usher in outdoor electric lighting in the U.S. long before incandescent bulbs were the norm. 

Willis R. Whitney 

An often-overlooked figure in lighting history is Willis R. Whitney, who worked at General Electric in the early 1900s. He developed a method to treat carbon filaments with hydrogen gas, making them stronger and longer-lasting. This chemical process extended bulb life and helped bridge the gap between early incandescent bulbs and more modern lighting technologies. 

Nick Holonyak Jr. 

Fast-forward to 1962, and we meet Nick Holonyak Jr., the American engineer who invented the first visible-spectrum LED (a red light) while working at General Electric. Holonyak’s breakthrough paved the way for today’s high-efficiency LED lighting, which we now find in everything from office buildings to smartphones—redefining the lighting landscape for the 21st century. 

Shuji Nakamura 

While Shuji Nakamura was born in Japan, his groundbreaking work on the blue LED was carried out after he moved to the United States and began working at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The blue LED was the missing link that allowed the creation of white LEDs, making energy-efficient lighting suitable for general use. His work helped complete the LED spectrum and changed global lighting forever. 

Modern-Day Innovators 

Today, American companies and inventors are pushing lighting even further. Startups and major corporations alike are pioneering smart lighting, solar-powered systems, and human-centric lighting that adjusts to our circadian rhythms. Innovations like Li-Fi (light-based data transmission) and Internet of Things (IoT)-integrated lighting controls are being developed and refined across the U.S., continuing our tradition of lighting innovation. 

A Legacy That Still Shines 

America’s contribution to lighting innovation is deep and diverse, with so many important folks seemingly left out of the history books. U.S history is valuable to look back on, and what better time to do so than Independance Day? So, here’s to the inventors, dreamers, and engineers who have illuminated our path forward. It’s about time we give them a little recognition.