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

Electronics Research Laboratory

State Historic Landmark 836 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leticia A. Kohnen, November 1, 2006

1. State Historic Landmark 836

Nothing of the original lab exists today.

Inscription. Original site of the laboratory and factory of Federal Telegraph Company, founded in 1909 by Cyril F. Elwell. Here, with two assistants, Dr. Lee de Forest, inventor of the three-element radio vacuum tube, devised in 1911-13 the first vacuum tube amplifier and oscillator. World-wide developments based on this research led to modern radio communication, television, and the electronics age.

Erected 1970 by State Department of Parks & Recreation, Palo Alto Historical Association, City of Palo Alto. (Marker Number 836.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 37° 26.484′ N, 122° 9.468′ W. Marker is in Palo Alto, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in University South. It is at the intersection of Channing Avenue and Emerson Street on Channing Avenue. Maker on concrete base at the southeast corner of intersetion of Channing Ave. & Emerson St. near downtown Palo Alto. Touch for map.

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Marker is in this post office area: Palo Alto CA 94301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Birthplace of “Silicon Valley” (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Elementary School (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Face Book (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hostess House (approx. 0.4 miles away); 401 Florence (approx. half a mile away); First Hospital (approx. 0.6 miles away); History of Tower Well (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Francisquito Creek Watershed (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palo Alto.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Hostess House War and Veterans Memorial (was approx. 0.4 miles

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away but has been confirmed missing).

Additional keywords. Pioneer Laboratories, Eletronics

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 2,382 times since then and 102 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 20, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.