Today in History: Electricity
Today in History–September 30–the Library of Congress features electricity. On this day in 1882, the first hydroelectric central station in the world began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. This and other hydroelectric plants provided inexpensive electricity, spurring industrial growth in many regions of the country around the turn of the 20th century. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to uncover more primary source treasures related to hydroelectric plants, Thomas Edison and electricity.
The World’s First Hydroelectric Power Plant Began Operation from America’s Library
Hydroelectric plants image set
Hydroelectric power legislation
Edison Light Company newspaper coverage
Thomas A. Edison primary source collections
Electricity books & other texts
Electricity: Alexander Graham Bell papers
Electric sheet music
- Electric polka 1864
- Electric sparks 1872
- Electric Schottisch 1872
Palace of Electricity (1900 film)
Who Invented Electric Christmas Lights? Library of Congress Blog December 19, 2017