Garrett Augustus Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky. Garrett went to Cincinnati, Ohio to look for work during his teenage years. He didn’t have a lot of education but was determined to learn. After working at several factories, a place where products are made, Garrett started to get his own ideas. Some of his ideas included a patent for an improved sewing machine and a hair straightener cream.

Garrett was really good at creating inventions that helped people. In 1914, he received a patent for an invention called a “safety hood.” This hood could be worn over the head and helped the person breathe better when there was smoke or gasses in the air. His breathing device was later adapted for the gas masks used during World War I.

In 1923, Garrett saw a really bad accident in the city. Horse and carriages were the main transportation or the way people moved from place to place. People could also ride on a bicycle or in a car. The accident inspired him to create a three-way traffic light so people would know when to stop and let the other vehicle drive through first. 

Garrett Morgan Traffic Maze