Fun Holiday – Alexander Graham Bell Day

The unofficial holiday recognizes the day in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the technology that would later become the telephone and changed the world of communications.

Patent Date

On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for “transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically.” Three days later, on March 10, Bell uttered the famous words "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" into a transmitter. His assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in the next room, heard the words clearly and thus, the first telephone was created.

In commemoration of the day he was granted the patent, Bell’s fans around the world celebrate March 7 as Alexander Graham Bell Day. It is a day recognized by an official act of the legislature in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Prolific Inventor

In addition to the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell is also credited with being the inventor of the metal detector and he is known for developing the Hydrodome, a watercraft that set a world marine speed record in 1919.

How to Celebrate?

• Learn more about the science and technology behind the telephone and the cell phone.
• Visit your local telecommunications museum.
• Every time you call a friend or text someone send a silent thank you to Bell. Without him, we would still be using pigeons to send messages.

Did You Know…

…that Bell was one of the founding members of the National Geographic Society?