History is coming alive this Saturday, April 25, as Dover’s historic Maison Dieu transforms into a global communication hub for International Marconi Day. In a high-energy celebration of the man who bridged the world through airwaves, this free event invites families to step back to 1899, the very year Guglielmo Marconi’s team stood in this grand hall to demonstrate the future of technology.
The day’s centerpiece arrives at 12:30 PM, when the Dover Amateur Radio Club recreates the legendary cross-Channel transmission, linking live with French partners in Wimereux.
Beyond the thrill of long-distance radio, visitors can master the art of Morse code, send semaphore flags flying across the gallery, and explore everything from shutter telegraphs to modern satellite transmissions.
Whether you are coloring naval signal flags or listening to the “dark and humorous” tales of the sea, the event offers an immersive journey through Dover’s legacy as the birthplace of ship-to-shore communication. From the halls of the Maison Dieu to the heights of South Foreland Lighthouse, come witness the spark that ignited the digital age.