Penrose in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Arlington Radio Towers
Three radio towers similar to the Eiffel Tower in construction were erected here in 1913. One stood 600 feet and the other two 450 feet above the 200-foot elevation of the site. The word "radio" was first used, instead of "wireless," in the name of this naval communication facility. The first trans-Atlantic voice communication was made between this station and the Eiffel Tower, in 1915. The nation set its clocks by the Arlington Radio Time Signal and listened for its broadcast weather reports. The towers were dismantled in 1941, as a menace to aircraft approaching the new Washington National Airport.Erected 1969 by Arlington County, Virginia. (Marker Number 30.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 38° 51.987′ N, 77° 4.844′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Penrose. Marker is on South Courthouse Road south of 8th Street South, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. John's Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Craig (approx. ¼ mile away); Harry W. Gray House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Selina Gray (approx. 0.3 miles away); History of Bocce Ball (approx. 0.4 miles away); George Washington Carver Cooperative Apartments (approx. 0.4 miles away); Albert I. Cassell (approx. 0.4 miles away); American-Armenian Volunteer Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Bain News Service (courtesy of the Library of Congress), circa 1915
3. Govt. Radio Station, Arlington
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 366 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on June 7, 2019.
