No, didn't mean to imply that Inventure Place credits Edison solely as the
inventor. And indeed, it is clear that Edison was influenced by Marey's--and
others'--work. Nonetheless, there was much original work done by Edison and,
especially his assistant Dickson, at West Orange.

Anyway, my point about the museum seems to have gotten lost in my choice of
example here. Sorry. But the museum is filled with great hands-on activities
that emphasize individual creativity, not group efforts, reinforcing one view
of inventiorn as the act of an individual. Okay, even if you buy that one,
why completely separate that activity from very good historical examples.
Again, with motion pictures or animation, if the activity is teaching about
the use of persistance of vision to create the illusion of motion through
technology, why not connect the visitor's experience with that of inventors
who worked in the past. This would, it seems, make that past work more
understandable and put it into a human context.

In addition, the social exchange of ideas during a given period of time,
either via technical journals or public displays or oral transmission, is a
very important part of inventive activity. Inventors don't work alone, in
isolation, drawing their inspiration from soley internal, personal resources.