Old Folsom Powerhouse

Sacramento County · Folsom State Recreation Area · location approximate

In the 1850's, Horatio Gates Livermore and later his sons, Horatio P. and Charles E., pioneered the development of ditches and dams on the American River for industry and agriculture. One historic result was Folsom Powerhouse, which began operations in July 1895. Power was delivered to Sacramento at 11,000 volts, which was a new achievement in long-distance high-voltage transmission. The capital celebrated by a grand electric carnival September 9, 1895. The original generating plant, still in place, remained in continuous operation until 1952. The plant was donated by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to the State of California to preserve its historical values.

1971 register text, presented as a historical document. It uses the period's terms for Native people; the state's landmark listings still carry most of this wording, and the California Office of Historic Preservation maintains the program's current texts.

Many of these plaques have since been recast or their texts revised. The California Historical Landmarks program and its current texts are maintained by the California Office of Historic Preservation. California Office of Historic Preservation ↗

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Marker data: State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, California Historical Landmarks (1971)

More markers nearby

Terminal of California's First Passenger Railroadunder 1 mi
Folsom—Overland Pony Express Route in Californiaunder 1 mi
Prairie City3 mi
The Coloma Road, Nimbus Dam4 mi

See your own family's places through time.

Start with your family tree