History's Best Selling Products of 1844

1. Morse Telegraph Message

   Released in 1844 by Samuel Morse

   On May 24, 1844, history was made in the Supreme Court chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was on this date that inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, surrounded by dignitaries, officially inaugurated the nation's first commercial telegraph line. This public demonstration was the culmination of a Congressionally-funded project to connect Washington and Baltimore, Maryland, over a 40-mile wire. The message, chosen by Annie Ellsworth, daughter of the Patent Commissioner, was from the Bible (Numbers 23:23): 'What hath God wrought'. Morse tapped out the message, which was received almost instantly by his associate Alfred Vail in Baltimore, who then transmitted it back, proving the system's efficacy and heralding a new era of communication.

2. The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California

   Released in 1844 by Lansford Hastings, George Conclin

   Lansford Hastings's 'The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California,' published in 1844, emerged at a critical juncture in American history, deeply intertwined with the burgeoning spirit of Manifest Destiny. The book served as a powerful catalyst, igniting the imaginations of countless individuals yearning for new opportunities and unsettled lands in the far West. Its timing was impeccable, coinciding with a period of growing nationalistic fervor and economic pressures in the eastern states, making the allure of fertile valleys and abundant resources irresistible. This guide, therefore, was not merely a travelogue but a manifest for a generation, shaping the perception of the American frontier and directly influencing the routes and decisions of thousands of pioneers embarking on the arduous journey along the Oregon and California Trails.