The First Telegram
Posted by: 
robert
N 39° 03.474 W 076° 53.378
18S E 336500 N 4324901
Cool marker noting the location of the telegram wires where the first telegram was transmitted. Not a very scenic location, and just a small area to pull off if you want to log it.
Waymark Code: WM8NT
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2006
Views: 61
THE FIRST TELEGRAM
"WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT"
Was sent from the Capitol in Washington to Baltimore May 24, 1844 over wires laid along the right of way of the B&O Railroad adjacent to this highway. The telegraph was invented by Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872).
MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST
MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Marker Type (optional): ----
County (required): Prince George's County
Location (required): Along Route 1in Beltsville at the corner of Route 1 and Ritz Way along the train tracks side
More info about the site/marker (optional):
Across the Atlantic, Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail were developing an alternative design. It was capable of transmitting over long distances using poor quality wire. The Morse code alphabet commonly used on the device was also named after Morse.
On January 6, 1838 Morse first successfully tested the device and on February 8 he publicly demonstrated it to a scientific committee at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first electric telegram using this device was sent by Morse on May 24, 1844 from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., and said:
What hath God wrought!
Website for more info (optional): [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
A photo of yourself and/or your GPS with the marker should be uploaded with each visit. The marker must be visible. If the marker is in a location that may be unsafe to pull over and stop, the best image you can provide (assuming you obtain the rest of the relevant information) should be sufficient.
If you submit a new waymark that gets accepted into the category, feel free to log a visit on it!