#Exhibit of the Month

One of the great technical achievements that revolutionized the idea of time and space, opening a new era in the history of communication, is telegraphy. It is based on the transmission of electrical signals through a cable over long distances, allowing people to communicate instantly. The telegraph spread very quickly and a network of wires stretched around the world.

In 1837, the American painter and physicist Samuel Morse invented the first electromagnetic device for telegraphy, patented in 1840. To send messages by wire, Morse developed in 1838 a simple code of dots and dashes, which represented the letters of the alphabet, known as "Morse code ".

Both Morse code and the telegraph machine were improved over time, with the telegraph becoming the most widespread system of communication and information transmission for more than a century, until the advent of the Internet. The telegraph system consisted of a series of stations repeaters along the transmission line route. Each station had an operator who received and transmitted messages by telegraph. The Morse machine transmitted about 25 words per minute, which were recorded in code on a paper tape. The operator in charge of transmitting the message would decode it and write it on paper using a special typewriter.

In Bessarabia, the telegraph entered in 1860: on April 8, the Bender telegraph station began its activity, and on April 24, the one in Chisinau, following the construction of the first Odesa-Chisinau-Leova telegraph line. Currently, telegraph services have been discontinued. The only ones who still use coded communication are radio amateurs.

The Morse telegraph machine shown comes from the Osinoostrovsky electrotechnical plant, Soviet Union, and dates back to 1934. The exhibit was restored by Mihail Culașco.

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International Cultural Forum "Cultural Heritage, Challenges and Opportunities", dedicated to the International Day of Monuments and Sites

April 18-19, 2024

During April 18-19, 2024, the first International Cultural Forum "Cultural Heritage, Challenges and Opportunities", dedicated to the International Day of Monuments and Sites, was successfully held at the headquarters of the National Museum of History of Moldova. The event was organized with the aim of examining the various aspects of cultural heritage, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities it presents, underlining the importance of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Moldova and Europe.

The forum brought together participants from various countries, including Romania, Ukraine, Latvia, France, the Netherlands, Italy and the Republic of Moldova, providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration between national and international experts, cultural actors and relevant institutions. With a total of 31 speakers and 29 presentations on topical issues, the Forum facilitated deep discussions on cultural heritage policy, economic development, heritage conservation in the face of disasters and conflicts, built cultural heritage, rural architectural heritage and monumental fine art.

During this event, 4 relevant exhibitions were inaugurated, giving participants the opportunity to explore the diversity and richness of the cultural heritage. Through these exhibitions and interdisciplinary discussions, the Forum promoted awareness and appreciation of the value of cultural heritage, strengthening connections and formulating strategies for the future direction of Moldova's cultural and tourism industry.

The organizers of the International Cultural Forum "Cultural Heritage, Challenges and Opportunities" express their gratitude to all the participants and partners involved in the realization of this successful event and express their commitment to continue dialogue and collaboration in order to preserve and promote cultural heritage. We look forward to the next editions of this Forum, which will continue to make significant contributions to the development and promotion of European cultural heritage.