Nathan Stubblefield monument.

Radio Invented Here, Maybe

Nathan Stubblefield, a self-taught inventor, broadcast and received the human voice by "radio" in 1902, years before anyone else could accomplish such a feat. It was a unique system that used the earth as its transmission medium -- more like a wireless earth telephone than a radio -- but it was ignored, and Stubblefield later starved to death, penniless and forgotten. On the second anniversary of his demise, however -- March 28, 1930 -- this monument was erected to mark the spot where he'd amazed the townspeople with his invention.

Murray would later promote itself as the "Birthplace of Radio," but that didn't prevent Stubblefield's home and workshop -- just across the street from the monument -- from being bulldozed to build a house for the dean of Murray State Teachers College.

Was Nathan Stubblefield part of the college curriculum? Probably not.

Radio Invented Here, Maybe

Address:: 302 N. 16th St., Murray, KY
Directions:: West side of downtown. From Hwy 94/Main St. turn north onto N. 16th St. Drive two blocks. The small monument will be on the right, just past the first brick pedestrian crosswalk.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Grave of Inventor of Radio, Murray, KY - 2 mi.

KY-TN State Line Sculpture, Hazel, KY - 8 mi.

Back Alley Paris, Paris, TN - 21 mi.

In the region:

Pratt Museum: Atomic Mortar, Hitler's Stick, Fort Campbell, KY - 49 mi.

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