Marconi Wireless Station - Cape Cod National Seashore - Wellfleet, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

Here stood one of the world’s greatest pioneer radio stations, Marconi’s South Wellfleet wireless, or “Old CC.” Unfortunately, the historic station was dismantled and abandoned in 1920, and the ocean has eroded away over half the land occupied.

A few remains are still visible, including concrete foundations for the transmitter house and northwest tower, and sand anchors that held guy wires.

The model encased behind you depics the station as it appeared in 1903 when it transmitted its first overseas message.
(the model has been removed)

Transmitter schematic diagram
A - Alternator, 60 cycle
B - 110 Volt storage battery
C - High tension transmitter condenser
G - 110 volt battery charging generator
H - Oscillating circuit inductance
J - Antenna tuning inductance
K - Tape machine for automatic key
M - Rotary spark gap motor
N - Main high-voltage keying relay
R - Rotary spark gap
T - Main high-voltage transformer
U – Radio frequency chokes
V - Rotary gap motor start box

[caption – center, drawing of the station]
Tower
Four towers built almost entirely of 3” X 12” number provided support for the antenna. Each stood 210 feet high (64m). The towers stood on concrete bases, two of which are still in place.

Antenna
The wire antenna was shaped like an inverted pryamid. At the top was a square of heavy, stranded, copper wire. Attached to this were 200 smaller wires which converged in midair just above the transmitter house.

Headquarters
A manager, two engineers, and three operators lived in his large frame building. No trace of it remains.

Powerhouse
A 45-horsepower kerosene engine generator supplied 2,200 volts AC to a Tesla transformer which stepped it up to 20,000 volts. A smaller DC generator kept batteries charged.

Transmitter house
Here at the heart of the station were the 20,000 volt condenser, antenna tuning coil, and the whirling spark gap rotor which could be heard 4 miles (6km) downwind. The foundation is still visible.

Tower rigging
Twelve steel cables 1” (2.6cm) in diameter secured each tower against high winds. The guy wires were anchored to “dead men” of crossed timbers buried 8 feet (2.4m) in the sand.

[Upper right]
“The huge towers, the roar of the old spark-gapper, the excitement of wireless contact with some distant listener are gone forever from the dunes South Wellfleet.”

Marconi and his South Wellfleet Wireless
Cape Cod History Guide
1969

Chronology
Marconi’s South Wellfleet Wireless Station

1901 – Marconi selects site in begins construction of the station.
1901 – In November a severe storm wrecked the station.
1902 – Station rebuilt with antenna supported by four heavy wooden towers.
1903 – First transatlantic wireless message sent between the United States and England.
1906 – Marconi’s engineers warned that cliff erosion is endangering the station.
1912 – Station operator hears a distant call from the sinking luxury liner Titanic.
1917 – After fifteen years of commercial service, the U.S. Government closes the station for wartime security reasons.
1920 – Equipment salvaged, towers dismantled, and buildings abandoned to the sea.
1961 – Site acquired by National Park Service as part of Cape Cod national seashore.

[picture showing beach erosion] The ocean has extensively eroded the station site.

Transmitter schematic diagram
A - Alternator, 60 cycle
B - 110 Volt storage battery
C - High tension transmitter condenser
G - 110 volt battery charging generator
H - Oscillating circuit inductance
J - Antenna tuning inductance
K - Tape machine for automatic key
M - Rotary spark gap motor
N - Main high-voltage keying relay
R - Rotary spark gap
T - Main high-voltage transformer
U – Radio frequency chokes
V - Rotary gap motor start box

Agency Responsible for Placement: National Park Service Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): N/A County: Barnstable City/Town Name: Wellfleet Relevant Web Site: [Web Link] Year Placed: Not listed

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