Torrey Pines in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Washington to Baltimore 1844 Telegraph Message

“What Hath God Wrought”

Telegraph Message Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 29, 2021

1. Telegraph Message Marker

Inscription.
Samuel Morse and his partner Alfred Vail tested the first forty-mile telegraph line, between Washington and Baltimore, on May 24 1844. In most accounts, a young woman provided the first message they sent:

What Hath God Wrought

The long-distance application of the telegraph and Morse code marked the beginning of a new era of communication, where information can travel instantaneously. All telephone, internet and social networks that exist around the world today began with two points: The Supreme Court Chamber in Washington, and the Mount Clair Railway Depot in Baltimore.

Erected 2018 by Mark Bradford.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1844.

Location. 32° 52.538′ N, 117° 14.445′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Torrey Pines. It can be reached from South Scholars Drive east of La Jolla Shores Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is between Urey and Bonner Halls at the University of California San Diego. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9287 S Scholars

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Dr, San Diego CA 92161, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Borderlands

and on the 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Theodor Seuss Geisel Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Conserving California's Coastal Treasures (approx. 0.6 miles away); Torrey Pines Gliderport (approx. 1.1 miles away); Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); John “Manila John” Basilone (approx. 2½ miles away); San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park (approx. 2½ miles away); San Diego Bottom Scratchers Dive Club (approx. 2.6 miles away); Development of CDMA for Cellular Communications (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Regarding Washington to Baltimore 1844 Telegraph Message. “What

Telegraph Message Marker and Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 29, 2021

2. Telegraph Message Marker and Sculpture

Hath God Wrought” is an art installation conceived by Los Angeles-based artist Mark Bradford. The 199-foot tall metal flagpole-like sculpture has a flashing light which spells out “What Hath God Wrought” in Morse Code. It is installed near Revelle Plaza on the UCSD campus - one of the oldest public areas on campus - that had included an immense communication tower in its original 1960s design. The University’s commemorative founding plaque, dated 1961, is located here. The sculpture reflects both the origins of the university as well as the origins of present-day communications.

Also see . . . Beginning of The Digital Age. Located between US Route 1 and the B&O Railroad tracks near the intersection with Ritz Way about 1 mile north of Beltsville, MD.

The message, “What hath God wrought?” sent later by “Morse Code” from the old Supreme Court chamber in the United States Capitol to his partner in Baltimore, officially opened the completed line of May 24, 1844. Morse allowed Annie Ellsworth, a friend’s young daughter, to choose the words of the message, and she selected a verse from Numbers XXIII, 23: “What hath God wrought?”
Photographed by T.L. Zagraniski, March 23, 2025

3. “What Hath God Wrought” Sculpture
The marker is just to the left of the foot of the sculpture. The University’s commemorative founding plaque is located 15 feet to the right of the sculpture.
which was recorded onto paper tape. Morse’s early system produced a paper copy with raised dots and dashes, which were translated later by an operator.

(Submitted on August 2, 2026, by Glenn Musser of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.)

What Hath God Wrought sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 29, 2021

4. What Hath God Wrought sculpture

UC San Diego Site Dedication Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by T.L. Zagraniski, March 23, 2025

5. UC San Diego Site Dedication Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2021, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 675 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on March 23, 2025, by T.L. Zagraniski of Reston, Va, Usa. Photos: 1. submitted on September 29, 2021, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 2. submitted on October 13, 2021. 3. submitted on March 23, 2025, by T.L. Zagraniski of Reston, Va, Usa. 4. submitted on September 29, 2021, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 5. submitted on March 23, 2025, by T.L. Zagraniski of Reston, Va, Usa. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.