The first broadcast from a licensed radio station in the United States occurred on November 2, 1920 when KDKA in Pittsburgh went on the air at 8:00 PM to read the result of the presidential election. About 100 people listened to this first broadcast.
Radio actually began in the 1890s and by the 1910s amateur radio operators were transmitting both music and voice broadcasts. There were very few radio receivers at this time, and in 1920 the employees of George Westinghouse came up with the idea of increasing radio receiver sales by providing people with interesting and entertaining programs which would make people want to turn in, therefore increasing the sales of radio receivers.
Shown below are some radios displayed in museum exhibits.
Lake Chelan Historical Society Museum, Chelan, Washington
World of Speed, Wilsonville, Oregon
East Benton County Historical Society and Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, Washington
Shown above is a Farnsworth Model CT-59 Portable Radio.
Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Condon, Montana
Museums 201
This series compares similar exhibits from several museums. More from this series:
Museums 201: Typewriters (photo diary)
Museums 201: Telephones (photo diary)
Museums 201: Forest fire lookouts (photo diary)
Museums 201: Saddles (photo diary)
Museums 201: Medicines (photo diary)
Museums 201: The caboose (photo diary)
Museums 201: Railway offices (photo diary)
Museums 201: Dinnerware (photo diary)