ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL’S VOLTA LABORATORY (1880s)In the late 1880s, St Matthew’s Court was the site of Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell’s Volta Laboratory. Bell conducted his sound experiments out of a building located behind 1221 Connecticut Avenue, NW between 1880 and 1886. It was here that Bell worked in collaboration with his cousin Chichester Bell and technician Charles S. Tainter to improve apparatus for recording sound.

A recording of Bell’s voice at Volta Laboratory can be heard here. The recording features Bell’s voice counting and calling out numbers for roughly four minutes. At minute 3:53 you can hear him say: “This record has been made by Alexander Graham Bell in the presence of Dr. Chichester A. Bell on the 15th of April, 1885 at the Volta Laboratory, 1221 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C. ”

In 1892, Charles J. Bell, Alexander’s cousin and busines partner constructed a new stable at the rear of 1221 Connecticut Avenue, NW, on the site of the former laboratory. In 1923 a new row house was constructed in front of the stable. This row house is currently occupied by the DC Preservation League and the stable is part of Lucky Bar.

Background Image: Courtesy of DC Historic Preservation Office

1888 Map of Washington, showing original location of Volta Laboratory behind 1221 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Digital Sanborn Maps

Sketch by Alexander Graham Bell, 1881-1882, showing his lab and other associated properties in the vicinity. Courtesy of Library of Congress

1882 Letter from C. Bell to A. Bell on Volta Laboratory Letterhead. Courtesy of Library of Congress