Museum Collections
Luce Center
Ribbon
Object Number:
INV.2871.3
Date:
ca. 1858
Medium:
Silk
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 1/4 x 2 5/8 in. ( 15.9 x 6.7 cm )
Description:
Light blue silk satin ribbon printed in black; depict world globe labelled "AMERICA" at left and "EUROPE" at right; with inscription: "FRANKLIN MORSE./HUDSON. PREEDY./CYRUS W. FIELD./To commemorate the Successful laying out of the Atlantic/Cable at the bottom of the Ocean, uniting Europe with Am-/erica. Aug. 5th 1858. by the united exertions of the Officers/and Crews of the British Steam Ship Agamemnon and/the United States Steam Frigate Niagara."
Gallery Label:
Retired businessman Cyrus Field (1819-1892) devoted himself to the development of an Atlantic cable to provide fast communication between Europe and the U.S. The cable of 1858 was only partially successful; a fully operational cable was in place by 1866.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.