Sparks, Waves and Wizards: Communications at Sea

Sparks, Waves and Wizards: Communications at Sea is an interactive, one-of-a-kind Bay Area exhibition that tracks the colorful history of maritime communication, from hand-held semaphore to orbiting satellite. The first new permanent addition to the Maritime Museum since 1992, Sparks will be stationed on the ship-shaped Museum's top floor -- a unique vantage point which offers stunning bridge-to-bridge views of San Francisco Bay. There, for the first time in San Francisco history, the general public will be invited to see, hear and chart the movements of boats at work on the Bay with the aid of a computerized Coast Guard map of Bay vessel traffic. The exhibit will also feature a walk-in, authentic recreation of a 1943 Victory ship radio room (on the Museum's second floor) which contains a working radio operator's station.

As the opening date draws nearer, watch this page for regular updates. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy these images from the exhibit.

(Editors please note: three higher resolution photos of the exhibit are available here.)

	View of the exhibit in progress. Inside the radio room. Click on the image for a larger view.
	View of the exhibit in progress. Inside the radio room. Click on the image for a larger view.
	View of the exhibit in progress. View from the third floor. Click on the image for a larger view.
	View of the exhibit in progress. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Radio room, 1951. Click on the image for a larger view.
	The barkentine Archer was the first commercial vessel on the West Coast fitted with wireless equipment. She operated out of Lime Harbor in the San Juan Islands in Washington State with a Pacific Wireless spark-gap set, communicating with the shore station at Friday Harbor. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Before the invention of radio, communication at sea was limited to visual range, using flag and light signals, or to just plain getting close enough to yell at another vessel. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Radio operator. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Morse code key.
	The Titanic disaster, with its great loss of life, led to the Radio Act of 1912, requiring three operators to maintain a 24-hour radio watch aboard passenger vessels. Part of the tragedy lay in the failure of the steamer Californian, only ten miles away, to respond to the Titanic's SOS (her single radio operator was asleep). Click on the image for a larger view.
	Heavy weather like this made radio operators a valuable part of the crew. Click on the image for a larger view.
	The SS Republic sinking was the first major case of lifesaving by wireless. The liner was rammed by the steamer Florida, at sea off New York. Marconi operator Jack Binns directed the rescue of 1600 souls from the Republic, transmitting in the dark from his damaged radio shack. Wireless proved itself, and Binns was its first hero, becoming a national celebrity. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Radio operator at his post. Click on the image for a larger view.
	The first use of wireless on the West Coast was in August, 1899. The arrival of the troopship Sherman was signaled from the San Francisco lightship to the Cliff House. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Radio direction finder for a small boat. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Spark radio setup. Click on the image for a larger view.
	Young man at his spark radio set. Click on the image for a larger view.

Sparks, Waves and Wizards: Communications at Sea

New Exhibit Opening November 6, 1999 in the Maritime Museum