10 Key Dates & Moments

Printing Press

1440

Taking place in Germany during the 1440s, goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press. His invention involved a movable metal type that allowed for fast production of printed materials. This invention led to the beginning of book creations.

Newspapers

1690

In the 1690s, American colonies worked their way into the creation of the mewspapers. Ben Harris printed the first newspapers in the English colonies called “Publick Occuurrences”.

Telegraph

1843

Taking place in the United States in 1843, Morse built a telegraphy system that went from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. The first message was sent in May of 1844.

Typewriter

1876

In the United States during 1876, Christopher Sholes developed the first typewriter in September on 1876. The first commercial model was manufactured a year later.

Recording

1877

In the United States during 1877, Thomas Edison invented the first machine that was able to capture sound, record it, and play it back to listeners.

Telephone

1877

In the United States during 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and was granted a U.S. patent. In 1877-1878, the first telephone was constructed and in operation.

Radio

1906

In the United States during 1906, Reginald Fessenden sent the first long distance transmission of human voice and music from his station in Massachusetts.

Television

1927

In the United States in 1927, Philo Taylor Farnsworth created the first electronic television. Televisions were not in most family homes in the U.S. until the 1950s.

Mainframe Computers

1943

In the United States during 1943, the Harvard Mark 1 was the first mainframe computer that weighed five tons and filled an entire room.

Satellites

1958

This took place in the United States in 1958. The U.S. Government launched the first satellite to send voice signals. It broadcasted a taped message from the current U.S. president at the time.