St. John's in Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Transatlantic Radio Signals

Le premier message radiotélégraphique transatlantique

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2014

1. Transatlantic Radio Signals Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This marker is composed of two side-by-side plaques, one in English and the other in French.
(English)
At Signal Hill on 12 December 1901, Guglielmo Marconi and his assistant, George Kemp, confirmed the reception of the first transatlantic radio signals. With a telephone receiver and a wire antenna kept aloft by a kite, they heard Morse Code for the letter “S” transmitted from Poldhu, Cornwall. Their experiment showed that radio signals extended far beyond the horizon, giving radio a new global dimension for communication in the twentieth century.

(français)
Le 12 décembre 1901, à Signal Hill, Guglielmo Marconi et George Kemp, son adjoint, captent le premier message radiotélégraphique d’outre-atlantique, munis d’un récepteur téléphonique et d’une antenne montée sur un cerf-volant, ils entendent le signal de la lettre S, en Morse, transmis à partie de Poldhe, comté de Cornwall. La preuve est ainsi acquise que les signaux radiotélégraphiques voyagent au-delà de l’horizon, conférant ainsi à la radio une dimension planétaire importante pour les communications

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au XXᵉ siècle.

Erected 1985 by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. In addition, it is included in the IEEE Milestones in Electrical Engineering and Computing series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 12, 1901.

Location. 47° 34.227′ N, 52° 40.88′ W. Marker is in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland. Marker is on Signal Hill Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: St John's NL A1A, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fever Hospital (a few steps from this marker); First Transatlantic Wireless Signal (a few steps from this marker); Peacetime Use (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Signal Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Cabot Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Noon Day Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Fishery (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Swiling (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. John's.

More about this marker. This marker is located in the Signal Hill National Historic Site parking lot.

Also see . . . Marconi's First Transatlantic Wireless Experiment.

Le premier message radiotelegraphique transatlantique Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2014

2. Le premier message radiotelegraphique transatlantique Marker

It was on the 12th hour of the 12th day of the 12th month that Marconi received the first transatlantic radio signal on Signal Hill in 1901. His claim was met with some scepticism; Edison thought Marconi may have heard static instead of signals and the scientists, unaware of the ionosphere, thought the earth's curvature would preclude distant transmission of radio signals. (Submitted on November 16, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2014

3. Transatlantic Radio Signals Marker

Cabot Tower in the background.

Guglielmo Marconi, Radio Transmission Pioneer image. Click for full size.

By Pach Brothers via U.S. Library of Congress, 1908

4. Guglielmo Marconi, Radio Transmission Pioneer

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,322 times since then and 77 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week December 9, 2018. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on December 8, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.