Cabot Tower on Signal Hill.
In 1899, he successfully transmitted a message across the English Channel to France.
At that time, scientists were unsure how far a wireless signal could travel.
But when a storm damaged the Poldhu antenna, Marconi was forced to replace it with a shorter one.
He found Signal Hill in St. John’s Newfoundland the ideal location for his receiving station.
The Marconi Company transmitter at Poldhu, Cornwall, Circa 1901.
The signs warned of lethal voltages.
Photo credit:www.newscotland1398.net
The wreckage of the antenna array at Poldhu after a gale in September, 1901.
The signal had travelled slightly more than 3,500 km.
You might think that Signal Hill owes its name to Marconi.
The hill was for many years the center of St John’s defenses.
The hill was originally known as “The Lookout”.
Flag communication between land and sea from the summit of Signal Hill continued until 1960.
Now a National Historic Site, the Cabot Tower is the principle landmark at Signal Hill today.
There is a gift shop, and an amateur radio station in the tower.
The abandoned hospital out of which Marconi operated his receiving station is long gone.
Photo credit:Library and Archives Canada/Flickr
A painting depicts Marconi’s receiving aerial wire supported by a kite.
Photo credit:www.newscotland1398.net
There is a memorial plaque on top of Signal Hill commemorating the historic event.
Photo credit:Simon Collison/Flickr
Photo credit:Michel Rathwell/Flickr
Photo credit:Paul/Flickr
Signal Hill.
The Cabot Tower is just visible on its summit.
Photo credit:Michel Rathwell/Flickr
The view from Signal Hill.
Photo credit:Tango7174/Wikimedia
Sources:Wikipedia/Canada’s Historic Places/Owlcation/Heritage.nf.ca/Encyclopedia of Canada
