What is Special About Camp Evans? 

InfoAge Scientists: 

and more...

Radio, Radar, and Satellites.

Camp Evans is the site of the Belmar Station of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America built in 1913-14.  It was the largest and is the last intact station of the first world encircling wireless network.  At the very dawn of the information age Guglielmo Marconi, the 1909 Nobel Prize winner for Physics had his American Corporation continue wireless radio development here.  At the site in 1914 Edwin Armstrong and David Sarnoff tested Armstrong's “regenerative circuit”, which revolutionized radio reception.  During WWI the Navy operated the station under authority of the Radio Act of 1912. The trans-Atlantic Communications officer, A. Hoyt Taylor, dispatched some of the most important messages of WWI to and from Washington and the front in Europe.  Later the U.S. Army Signal Corps did SCR-268/270 radar unit fabrication and development here.  These units provided America’s first World War II radar defense until more advanced units were developed.  Camp Evans engineers also played a major design roll in the replacement units, the SCR-584.  Camp Evans served the US Army as the center of vacuum tube development and research.  In 1946 Project Diana opened the "Space Age" by reflecting radar signals off the moon.  In the 1950s satellite payloads for Vanguard I and II were developed.  Also in the 1950’s Signal Corps scientists drove the silicon based transistor industry to commercial viability to meet military radio, radar and satellite power and miniaturization needs.  Also, much development and testing was done on communication devices to support rapid and flexible all-weather warfare.  From 1952 - 1999 Evans was the site of the US Army radiation dosimetry Laboratory.  Devices and advances developed at the Evans Area have been employed by the US Armed Forces in every conflict from WWII current to the Persian Gulf War and recent Bosnia actions.

An excellent historic location with existing buildings in a secure environment and with major highway accesses.  Plus room to grow.

Nearly all science and technology centers start with only a concept.  At Camp Evans the Information Age Learning Center will start with a historic location in the center of the north Jersey Shore tourist area.  The site is easily accessible from the north and south using Route 18 and accessible from the west via Highway 195 and Route 18.  Visitors would not travel through local neighborhoods.  There are two large parking lots for cars and buses.  The site is fenced creating a secure and safe family environment.  The the historic Marconi 45 room hotel and wireless support buildings and other US Army built masonry buildings are in good condition.  Two of these buildings, used for SCR-268/270 fabrication, known as the "H" buildings are interconnected and suitable for conversion to exhibit, classroom, auditorium, and other Learning Center use.  Finally, there is room for future expansion.  Other learning centers have had to do costly relocation due to out-growing their original location.