Bellingham in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Old Telegraph Road
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 29, 2012
1. Old Telegraph Road Marker
Inscription.
Old Telegraph Road. . Penetrating northward through this point, toward wilderness areas of British Columbia and Alaska, a telegraph line was partially built in 1865-1867 to connect New York with London via the Bering Strait Cable and a line across Russia. A single-wire pole line followed a fifty-foot clearing through heavy forests and across frozen tundra. Western Union Telegraph Company dropped this project abruptly in 1867 when satisfactory trans-Atlantic cable service was established. Russian-American co-operation in building this line facilitated our purchase of Alaska in 1867.
Penetrating northward through this point, toward wilderness areas of British Columbia and Alaska, a telegraph line was partially built in 1865-1867 to connect New York with London via the Bering Strait Cable and a line across Russia. A single-wire pole line followed a fifty-foot clearing through heavy forests and across frozen tundra. Western Union Telegraph Company dropped this project abruptly in 1867 when satisfactory trans-Atlantic cable service was established. Russian-American co-operation in building this line facilitated our purchase of Alaska in 1867.
Erected by Historical Site and Markers Commission, [Washington] State Parks Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.
Location. 48° 47.069′ N, 122° 29.146′ W. Marker is in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. Marker is at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Guide Meridian Road on Telegraph Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Telegraph Road, Bellingham WA 98226, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 29, 2012
2. Old Telegraph Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 928 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on May 26, 2023, by Ann S. of Bellingham, Washington. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
