Monday, April 27, 2026

Question: The Folsom Powerhouse, an 1895 hydroelectric plant on the American River, was among the first facilities in the U.S. to do what?

Answer: Transmit high-voltage electricity over a long distance. On July 13, 1895, the powerhouse sent power 22 miles to Sacramento—a pioneering feat the capital celebrated weeks later with a “Grand Electric Carnival” decorating the State Capitol with thousands of light bulbs. The original plant remained in operation, with interruptions, until 1952 and is now Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park.