Image Gallery: Building An Infrastructure
Our modern system of making and supplying electric power did not appear overnight. The images in this gallery convey a sense of the wide array of components and the amount of hard work involved.

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Link to lithograph of station interior.
Interior of Pearl Street
Station, New York, c.1883
Image 48285b
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to drawing of distribution area.
Pearl Street Station,
New York, distribution area
Image 69231
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to image of hydro-generator.
Pelton water wheel
on hydro-generator, c.1882
Image 32356
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to photo of turbo-generators.
Steam turbo-generators,
Long Island railways, c.1907
Image 44191d
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to photo of Fiske St. Station.
Fiske Street Station steam turbine
Chicago, c.1907
Image 44191f
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, US Dept of C&L
Link to photo of station interior.
Interior of Susquehanna
hydroelectric station, c.1912
Image 44191h
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to photo of towers.
Transmission switches
on wooden towers, 1906
Image 79-2137
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to photo of electric fan.
Early fan powered from
a light socket
Image 79-2130
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

Link to photo of power pole.
Standard "A Frame" pole
1906
Image 79-2139
Electricity & Modern Physics
Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

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