24 May 1844: a telegraph from Washington to Baltimore
A documented transmission by Morse and Vail, tied to a particular route and system.
Event period: 1844 CE — separate from publication date
Also known as: Samuel Morse · Alfred Vail · telegraph
The event
On 24 May 1844, Samuel Morse transmitted a message from the Supreme Court chamber in the US Capitol to Alfred Vail in Baltimore. Dots and dashes represented letters.
Context
Morse had demonstrated his machine to Congress in 1838 and obtained a patent in 1840. The 1844 transmission belongs to that development history; it does not establish the invention date of every form of telegraphy.
Claims and evidence
Morse sent the message from the Capitol to Vail in Baltimore on 24 May 1844.
Sources
- The Capitol's First Official Telegraph — U.S. House of Representatives
Heading date and first paragraph: 24 May 1844, Morse in the Capitol and Vail in Baltimore.
Source accessed 2026-10-28
