Nov. 20, 1923: Traffic-Signal Patent Has GE Seeing Green
Today in 1923, Garrett Morgan patents his version of the traffic signal. Morgan’s signal, which more closely resembled the signals seen at train crossings, was not the first traffic light. His wasn’t even the first patent issued for a traffic light. But it was the signal that eventually attracted the attention of General Electric, which bought the rights from Morgan for $40,000.
