All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #082 for January 2026 - Happy 200th Birthday! 

Part 1 - Martha Coston: She Had a Certain Flare

Martha Coston significantly advanced maritime communication by developing pyrotechnic signal flares that could be seen day and night, improving naval operations and safety at sea. Ships originally used signal flags and lanterns to communicate, but these were limited by visibility and weather conditions, especially at night. Martha received her first patent in 1859, initially in Benjamin’s name, and after extensive testing and negotiations, the U.S. Navy purchased her patent in 1861 during the Civil War. Coston flares were crucial for naval communication, identifying friend or foe, and aiding in rescue operations, remaining in use until marine radios emerged in the 1930s. Martha and her sons expanded the business internationally, supplying various navies and services, with family members continuing operations into the late 19th century. Martha Coston died in 1904, with her invention enduring for decades; she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.