In New York he bought a large house, No. 5 West Twenty-second Street, for his winter residence, and, on a vacant lot adjoining, erected an elegant building for his library and study. What a contrast between this and the time when "Porte Crayon" gave him ten dollars, which Morse said would save his life!
Honors now poured in upon him. In 1835 he had been elected a member of the Historical Institute of France.
In 1837, a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Belgium.
In 1839 the Great Silver Medal of the Academy of Industry of Paris was voted him.
In 1841, a corresponding member of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science at Washington.
In 1842, the gold medal of the American Institute.
In 1845, a corresponding member of the Archæological Society of Belgium.
In 1848, the first decoration ever bestowed by the Sultan of Turkey upon a citizen of the United States, _Nishan Iftikar_, in diamonds; he was also made a member of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.
In 1849, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston.
In 1851, a golden snuff-box containing the Prussian golden medal for scientific merit.
In 1852, the Great Gold Medal of Arts and Sciences from the King of Würtemberg.
In 1855, the Great Gold Medal of Science and Art from the Emperor of Austria.
In 1856, the brevet and decoration as Chevalier of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honor, from the Emperor of France.
In 1856, the Cross of the Order of Dannebrog from the King of Denmark.
In 1858, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Sweden.
In 1859, the order of knighthood and Commander of the First Class of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic, from Isabella II. of Spain.
In 1860, Knight of the Tower and Sword, from the King of Portugal.
In 1864, Chevalier of the Royal Order of Saints Lazaro and Mauritio, from Victor Emmanuel II., King of Italy.
In 1866, honorary member of the Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle of Geneva, Switzerland.
In 1857, Morse aided in the attempt to lay the Atlantic cable, being made electrician of the company. This was eminently fitting, as he had laid the first submarine cable, in 1842, October 18; one moonlight night in the harbor of New York City, between Castle Garden and Governor's Island.