“The Illuminating Engineer”: A Journal That Helped Define a Profession
Long before today’s lighting professionals could flip through polished issues of Lighting Design + Application or academic volumes of the Journal of the
Daniel McFarlan Moore and the Moore Tubes
The story of early electric lighting is often dominated by incandescent carbon-filament bulbs and, later, by the emergence of fluorescent
Lighting Below the Surface: A History of Dive Lights
Under the sea, under the sea! Darling it’s better down where it’s wetter, take it from me! Let’s investigate how
An Illuminating Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada
Few pieces of roadside architecture have earned the mythical status achieved by the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada Sign.
Radiant History
Remembering the EPA Green Lights Program
Back in the early 1990’s, there was a movement taking place that was shining a light on global warming, pollution reduction, and environmental activism. The US Government mobilized to develop programs that would influence businesses
The Father of Phototherapy and the Finsen Light
In 1903, Niels Ryberg Finsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for his invention of light therapy for skin tuberculosis (lupus vulgaris). His breakthrough research on the effects of light on humans has earned Finsen the
First Lighted Indoor Hockey Match
It’s commonly accepted that Canada has a love affair with ice hockey. From pond hockey rinks to large indoor NHL arenas, Canadians flock to play and watch their National winter pastime. On March 3, 1875
Black History Month Spotlight: Lewis Latimer- A Remarkable Inventor Who’s Career Transcended Boundaries and Barriers
In the annals of history, there are pioneers whose contributions transcend boundaries, barriers, and time, leaving a lasting impact on the world. One such luminary is Lewis Latimer, an African-American inventor and engineer who played
Peter Mole: The Academy Awards Favorite Cinema Lighting Professional
In the world of cinema, there are unsung heroes whose contributions often go unnoticed because they take place behind the scenes. One such luminary is Peter Mole, the visionary behind Mole Richardson, a renowned lighting
First Incandescent Light Installed In A U.S. Church
The First Presbyterian Church of Roselle, NJ, was selected by Thomas Edison in 1882 to be the first church to install and test his incandescent electric light fixture called an Electrolier. The fixture is a
Georges Claude: Neon Pioneer
In 1912, after years of experimentation with gases and tubes, lighting inventor and neon pioneer Georges Claude discovered the perfect commercial application for his neon tubes: Advertising Signs. That year Claude installed the first-ever neon
Wabash, Indiana: The First Electrically Lighted City in the World
In the late 19th century, as the world was on the brink of an industrial revolution, a small city in Indiana embarked on a groundbreaking journey that would forever change the way we view electricity.
The First Night Space Shuttle Launch
On the evening of August 30, 1983 the Space Shuttle Challenger and her crew thundered into the night sky as it left the high-pressure xenon light illuminated launch pad of Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. This
My Kind of Sign: C-H-I-C-A-G-O Theater’s Iconic Electric Sign
No electric sign is as tied to a city’s history and culture as the historic 6-story vertical Chicago Theater sign on State Street (yes, that great street). That sign along with the theater’s marquee has
