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Lightning is Electricity!
By flying a kite with a key on the tail during a storm, Benjamin Franklin, who was in an insulated room, discovered that lightning is electricity. -
Edwin Drake Strikes Oil
After a summer of drilling 6 days a week, Edwin Drake and his crew struck oil 70 ft below ground in Titusville -
Thomas Edison Patents Lightbulb
thomas Edison was granted a patent for the electric lightbulb on this day. Contrary to popular belief, Edison did not invent the lightbulb, but modified the existing lightbulb to make it efficient and successful. -
First Electrical Power Plant
The first electric power station goes into operation in lower Manhattan. It generates electricity for 1 square mile of the area. -
First Hydroelectric Power Plant
The Vulcan Street Plant in Wisconsin opened on this date. It provided power for 3 buildings. -
Westinghouse AC Generator
On this date, George Westinghouse received a patent for his AC generator. Westinghouse would try to popularize the AC current, but Edison's DC current was more popular at the time. Today, however, we use AC current, which is safer and easier to use. -
Hoover Dam Dedicated
On this date, Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Hoover Dam. It generates electricity for areas in multiple states. -
First Nuclear Reactor
On this date Chicago Pile-1 was activated on the University of Chicago racket courts. this was the first self-sustaining nuclear reactor, and would lead eventually to nuclear power. -
First US Nuclear Power Plant
On this date, the Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant was opened by Dwight Eisenhower -
First Offshore Wind Farm Approved
On this date, the first offshore wind farm in the US was approved. It hasn't been built, but it's planned in Massachusetts.
