#OTD in 1914: Garrett Morgan Patents Lifesaving Safety Hood — AURN News

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On Oct. 13, 1914, pioneering Black American inventor Garrett Morgan received a U.S. patent for his safety hood, an early version of the modern gas mask. Designed to protect firefighters and workers from smoke and dangerous fumes, the invention proved its value in 1916 when an explosion trapped workers in a tunnel beneath Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio. Morgan, his brother and two volunteers wore the safety hoods as they entered the smoke-filled tunnel, helping rescue several men. Despite facing racial discrimination, Morgan continued developing innovations, including a three-position traffic signal patented in 1923. He died in 1963, leaving a lasting legacy of inventions that helped make everyday life safer.

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