Morse Code

Though a modern anachronism, Morse Code is still in use in some high-tech communication sectors such as — believe it or not — aviation and the military.

Made up of a series of "dots" and "dashes," Morse Code is named after its founder, Samuel F. B. Morse. The telegraph's invention was prompted by messenger-delivered news of Morse's wife's death while he was away in Washington. Though he headed home immediately, she was already buried by the time he arrived. Lamenting the lack of faster communication, a series of events in the 1830s led Morse to develop the concept and equipment for the telegraph. With backing from the U.S. Congress, Morse demonstrated his invention in May 1844 over a 38-mile telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington, telegraphing the famous line, "What hath God wrought."

Try your hand at Morse Code. Using the Morse Code alphabet at the right, translate the quotation below.

Translation: