The light bulb was invented in 1878 by Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was the first practical incandescent light that was inexpensive enough for widespread domestic use. Originally light bulbs were yellow, white, or clear in color and looked very different than modern light bulbs. Edison invented the light bulb to provide safe indoor lighting as oil lamps caused many fires. Though Edison had help from others like Davy Swan, he is generally credited as the inventor of the light bulb.