Cleveland – As Sandra Morgan watches the changing lights at an intersection, she feels proud. The granddaughter of Garrett Morgan, who patented the three-position traffic signal 100 years ago, she understands the impact of her grandfather’s invention.
For Sandra, the history and legacy of her family hold a special place in her heart. She is reminded of the tragic circumstances that led to her grandfather’s idea, but also the countless lives it has saved.
Before Garrett Morgan’s invention, traffic signals were operated manually, with only two instructions – stop and go. The roads were chaotic, and accidents were commonplace. The lack of an interval between stop and go meant there wasn’t enough time for traffic patterns to adjust, leading to many fatal crashes.
But Garrett Morgan himself witnessed a devastating accident at a busy intersection in Ohio, which sparked his life-saving idea – add a “caution” signal in between stop and go. His three-position traffic signal was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent Office in 1923, and the caution light we know today was born.
General Motors recognized the value of Morgan’s invention and purchased the patent for $40,000. Today, there are over 300,000 signalized intersections across the U.S., all influenced by Garrett Morgan’s original design.
Born in Paris, Kentucky, to formerly enslaved parents, Garrett Morgan had a sixth-grade education but always had a passion for knowledge and invention. He was a successful businessman, owning a repair and tailor shop, as well as founding a local newspaper for Black residents. Despite facing discrimination, Morgan continued to innovate and even coined a new nickname for himself – the “Black Edison.”
One of his other notable inventions was the safety hood, which later evolved into the gas mask. It was used in a tragic natural gas explosion at Lake Erie in 1916, bringing attention to Morgan’s identity as a Black inventor. While some customers canceled orders for the safety hood upon learning its creator was Black, it was still adopted by fire stations across the country and even used in World War I.
Garrett Morgan’s legacy lives on, and his granddaughter Sandra ensures it is not forgotten. She has worked hard to include him in the curriculum of Ohio’s school system, and he has been recognized by the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
As traffic signals continue to evolve, Sandra Morgan is proud of her grandfather’s lasting impact. “The principles behind it are the same as they have been for the past 100 years,” she said. “It has saved countless lives.”
