Wabash, Indiana | First electrically lit city | Techday, March 31st
The city council of Wabash, Indiana, agreed to a test of electrical street lights in 1880. On this TECHDAY in history, on March 31st 1880, the town became the first electrically lit city in the world as the residents watched four 3,000-candle power lamps mounted atop the courthouse provide a sudden flood of light.
The system used arc lamps, which spaced about 200 feet apart and illuminated the city’s main business district. This was a significant technological advancement at the time. It allowed for safer and more efficient lighting of public spaces at night. Prior to the implementation of electric street lighting, gas lamps were in use, but they were expensive to maintain and posed a risk of fires.
The introduction of electric street lighting in Wabash was met with widespread enthusiasm, and it quickly became a popular tourist attraction. People came from all over the country to see the “Electric City” and witness the new technology in action. In the following years, many other cities around the world began installing electric street lighting.
Overall, the introduction of electric street lighting in Wabash marked a major milestone in the history of urban development. It improved the safety and livability of cities, and paved the way for the widespread use of electricity in other aspects of daily life.
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Author: Pc.gr
The World of Technology
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