Palo Alto in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Motion Picture Research Commemoration

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, January 3, 2015

1. Motion Picture Research Commemoration Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In commemoration of the motion picture research conducted in 1878 and 1879 at the Palo Alto Farm now the site of Stanford University

This extensive photographic experiment portraying the attitudes of men and animals in motion was conceived by and executed under the direction and patronage of Leland Stanford consecutive instantaneous exposures were provided for by a battery of twenty four cameras fitted with electro shutters

Eadweard J Muybridge, Photographer carried out the investigation and showed that the photographs could be combined in projection to give the true appearance of motion

John D Isaacs, Mechanical Engineer advanced the research by devising electrical equipment

J D B Stillman, MD analysed the photographs relating to the locomotion of the horse

Erected 1929 by Stanford University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 37° 25.675′

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, January 3, 2015

2. Motion Picture Research Commemoration Marker

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N, 122° 10.217′ W. Marker is in Palo Alto, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Serra Mall and Palm Drive. It is at the SW corner of Memorial Court on the Stanford University campus,. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Serra Mall, Stanford CA 94305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Gates of Hell (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Gordon Hampton Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Development of Motion Pictures (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lou Henry Hoover House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hostess House (approx. 1.1 miles away); Electronics Research Laboratory (approx. 1.2 miles away); History of Tower Well (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palo Alto.

Regarding Motion Picture Research Commemoration. This plaque commemorates the earliest known projection of moving images in the world, a very poignant occasion at the time. Eadweard Muybridge, the director of these images would later experiment with projecting moving images of men, women and children in various states of movement. Muybridge was a true pioneer of his day and his groundbreaking work with projecting moving images would inspire others in moving closer to inventing the movie camera.

Stanford Memorial Court image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, January 3, 2015

3. Stanford Memorial Court

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 19, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.