Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) was the inventor of the telephone and was also known for his education of the deaf. Bell first visited Cape Breton in 1885 and set up a vacation home, known at Beinn Bhreagh, the following year. He spent a good part of each year there with his wife Mabel Hubbard Bell away from the formality and summer heat of Washington DC. They both played an active role in the village of Baddeck.
The invention of the telephone relieved him of the need to earn and enabled him to pursue his experiments. He had a vivid imagination
and this led to scientific experiments in sound transmission, medicine, aeronautics, marine engineering and space-frame construction. He was an inventor, an innovator, a humanitarian and an inspiration
to others.
Aeronautics including kite-flying experiments and the Silver Dart, the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to fly successfully in Canada in 1909 played a large part in his life. He worked with Casey Baldwin, Douglas McCurdy, Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge and Glenn Curtiss in the Aerial Experiment Association, founded in 1907. Later Bell and Baldwin later turned to experiments with hydrofoil craft which resulted in the HD-4, which set a world speed record in 1919.
Bell created a significant impact on Baddeck providing work for both men and women. Mabel Bell played an important role in her husband's career, providing him with both financial and moral support, and she also played a large role in the life of the village.
The Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck has a large collection of artifacts related to Bell's research - books
, photographs, copies from his personal archives, personal items, furniture and awards received during his lifetime. Most artifacts are original, but there are some reproductions.
Beinn Breagh his summer home is still owned and maintained by his descendants and has many buildings and infrastructures from his time including the Kite House, the Lodge, and the Kia Ora boathouse. The graves of Bell and his wife are located on the estate. The property is not open to the public, but as an off site resource provides the context for the Museum.
This is just a small insight into Bell and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The museum is a must see for all tourists to the area and is a favorite with men, women and children alike. They have an inactive area for the kids and of course the men love all the machines. So if you plan a tour to include Cape Breton make sure to add
it to your list.
My name is Avril Betts, I am originally from England and now a Canadian Citizen, I have over 25 years experience in all aspects of Travel and Tourism, including running an online agency for over 13 years. I holds a CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) an internationally recognized accreditation and in 1996 hosted the president’s wives luncheon for the G7 conference.
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