My father-in-law, Walt, gave this light bulb to me long ago and I have kept it around as a reminder of him. But I didn't realize how important it was in history. Recently, we toured the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. If you are ever in DC, this is a must-see stop. You can call ahead for a docent-led tour or just drop in and read all the displays.
This building is the first public building to have electric lights, and yes, they look exactly like the light Walt gave me. You can see #15 on the bulb to keep track of the many metals he used for the illumination.
The lights are still in use, but augmented greatly by modern lighting. Still, that is a wondrous thing to see in person.
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