08/19/2026
Today, we celebrate a true Utah legend who changed how the world communicates!
On this day in 1906, Philo T. Farnsworth was born in Beaver, Utah, in a log cabin. He was fascinated with how things worked and by age 12, had a thorough understanding of electronics. At age 15, Philo developed the concept of the electronic transmission of images and at age 21, after having invented varieties of vacuum tubes including an image dissector, he was able to transmit and receive a recognizable image!
Farnsworth's inventions earned him the title of "Father of Television". Throughout his life, he was issued over 160 patents for not only television-related inventions, but also for developing the first electron microscope, baby incubator, infrared surveillance scopes used in WWII, and many others.
Visitors can view this impressive bronze statue of Farnsworth holding his image dissector tube on the Capitol’s fourth floor.
