PPG Completes Colorful Communities Project at Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum in Ohio

As part of its global community engagement efforts, PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project that helped to revitalize and restore the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum in Milan, Ohio. In addition, the PPG Foundation donated $20,000 on behalf of PPG’s architectural coatings business to support the museum’s science, technology, engineering and math education programs.

Noted as the most famous American inventor, the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum showcases his lifelong commitment to innovation and science through demonstrations of his inventions and displays of documents and family mementos. Approximately 30 PPG volunteers and contractors from Textbook Painting of Lakewood, Ohio, used 50 gallons of PPG PAINTS™ products to protect and beautify the National Historic Landmark site, which dates back to the early 1840s, and the museum’s welcome center.

The $20,000 PPG Foundation grant enables the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum to extend its educational activities to reach approximately 16,000 students. Programs are based on Edison’s experiments and inventions, and involve genuine museum collectables.

“We are very thankful for, and overwhelmed by, the generosity of PPG and the PPG Foundation,” said Lois J. Wolf, director, Edison Birthplace Museum. “The PPG Paints products have given new life to our museum and will preserve these historic buildings for years to come. And the grant will enable us to inspire thousands of children and adults with the spirit of Edison’s determination.”

Premium PPG Paints products, including MANOR HALL paint, TIMELESS paint and PPG TOP GUN sealant were used to protect and beautify two interior rooms of the birthplace home and the exterior of the museum’s welcome center. PPG selected a custom color palette for the buildings, including PPG Paints colors such as Zebra Grass (PPG1126-5), Adobe White (PPG1100-2), Halo (PPG1091-4), Farm Fresh (PPG1129-5) and Warm Mahogany (PPG1060-7). Ideal for high-traffic areas, PPG Paints Manor Hall paint, primer and stain repellant-in-one is a super-premium latex developed to provide a durable finish, excellent color retention, adhesion and fade resistance, allowing the interior walls of the museum to stand up to finger prints, regular cleaning and maintenance. PPG Paints Timeless exterior paint’s fade resistance and adhesion will protect the structures from varied seasons experienced in Northern Ohio.

Dave Kuhn, PPG plant manager at the nearby Huron, Ohio, architectural coatings facility, said, “PPG and our foundation are committed to investing in our communities, especially to support local landmarks and boost educational opportunities. We are proud to be a community partner to the Edison Birthplace Museum and hope the restoration project helps it continue to promote the legacy of this great innovator. We also hope that programs funded through the grant will inspire the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and innovators.”

The Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum showcases the American inventor’s commitment to innovation and science through his inventions, memorabilia, family photographs and paintings. The museum is self-funded, primarily from its 6,000 visitors each year.

PPG’s architectural coatings manufacturing and distribution facilities in Huron employ approximately 200 people, and PPG operates 10 PPG Paints stores in Northern Ohio. Visit www.ppgpaints.com for more on the PPG Paints brand, and visit www.ppgpaints.com/store-locator to find a PPG Paints store.