HoF - National Broadcasters Hall of Fame - Wall, NJ - Hall of Fame on Waymarking.com

Here on Marconi Road, along the shores of the Shark River in Wall Township, New Jersey, Guglielmo Marconi constructed a wireless communications station for the purposes of commercial wireless communications. The first trans-oceanic wireless communication was received here.

The American Marconi Wireless Company built a 45 room hotel to house its employees, and erected six 500 foot radio towers as part of the permanent commercial transmitting and receiving station. A part of the original tower is displayed on one of the original sites of the towers along Marconi Road.

The Navy took commission of the station during World War I, as a base for trans-Atlantic communication. The military data sent and received here played a vital role in the war effort. When World War I ended, the Navy returned the site to Marconi, whose company had changed its name to Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The need for the strategically placed wireless station was no longer a priority of Marconi's business, and by 1924 the site had been abandoned.

Just before the United States entered World War II, this research facility once again became a military installation for Signal Corps. In 1942, this installation was rebuilt and named Camp Evans after Lt. Col. Paul W. Evans, a pioneer in the growth of the Signal Corps.

The research done at Camp Evans during World War II developed the single most important technological advantage that turned the war towards the Allied - RADAR. Radar used to detect aircraft, submarines and ground units was developed, tested and perfected here. Another technological invention developed here was the proximity fuse, which controls explosion timing.

This site again "made the radar" on January 10, 1946, when the Diana Tower Project sent the first radar signal to the moon and back. The Diana Tower still stands, but the original dish has been replaced, as the tower was subsequently used for advancement in meteorological radar systems.

We were taking pictures of the Camp Evans sign when we ran into Stephen Goulart of Infoage, the Information Age Science and History Learning Center. Just weeks ago, Infoage was given the keys to the nwly demilitarized site, as a place to house military and technology museums and research centers. Stephen gave us an impromptu, all access tour.

Infoage has renovated the historic Marconi Hotel to house the Military Technology Museum of New Jersey, the Garden State Central Model Railroad Club and Exhibit, the NJ Historic Divers Association's Historical Shipwreck Museum (which isn't open yet, but amazing...thank you Dan Lieb), a fascinating exhibit about lunar module communications, including the actual "processor" for the Apollo 14 capsule computer (thank you Frank O'Brien) and the hall can be rented out for special occassions. Future renovations of larger buildings will include an extension of the Military Technology Museum, with over 50 restored military vehicles.

Another of the demilitarized buildings now houses the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Radio Technology Museum. The Radio Technology Museum, presented by the New Jersey Antique Radio Club Association, is devoted to the history of radio communications. The earliest examples of transistors and wave radios, to the advancements of recording and television make this an educational and reminiscent look at the history of radio. The National Broadcasters Hall of Fame is a unique collection from the old radio days, including entire broadcast recordings and films of radio personalities.

The museum is open Sundays 1-4 pm or by appointment.

Hours of Operation: Sundays 1-4 pm or by appointment Admission Prices: Donations Accepted Hall of Fame website URL: [Web Link] Time Required for Full Experience: A few hours

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