Energy & Power
The Museum's collections on energy and power illuminate the role of fire, steam, wind, water, electricity, and the atom in the nation's history. The artifacts include wood-burning stoves, water turbines, and windmills, as well as steam, gas, and diesel engines. Oil-exploration and coal-mining equipment form part of these collections, along with a computer that controlled a power plant and even bubble chambers—a tool of physicists to study protons, electrons, and other charged particles.
A special strength of the collections lies in objects related to the history of electrical power, including generators, batteries, cables, transformers, and early photovoltaic cells. A group of Thomas Edison's earliest light bulbs are a precious treasure. Hundreds of other objects represent the innumerable uses of electricity, from streetlights and railway signals to microwave ovens and satellite equipment.
22
Page 1 of 2
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the Commercial National Bank of Washington, DC, 1904
- Description
- National bank note proof of the Commercial National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 7446. $10-10-10-20, 1904. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was organized on October 18, 1904 and the plate that produced this proof sheet was approved for use on November 3. This bank absorbed the National City Bank of Washington, Charter 7936, in 1911. The Commercial National Bank itself went into receivership on February 28, 1933. That was a few days before Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated President and promptly declared a bank holiday to prevent further runs on banks nationwide.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00548
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00548
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1901-11-02
- series date
- 1882
- BEP certification date
- 1920-09-24
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- Des Moines National Bank
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.009232
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.009232
- bank charter number
- 2583
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $50-100 of the Traders National Bank of Washington, DC, 1890
- Description
- National bank note proof from the Traders National Bank of Washington DC, $50-100. Charter number 4244. The $50 note features the image of Washington crossing the Delaware River on the left; a soldier praying beneath the allegorical figure of Victory on the right. The $100 note features the image of sailors in a longboat approaching two ships labeled Lawrence and Niagara on the left; an image of winged Victory standing with fasces and the motto "Maintain it!" on the right. The bank was chartered on February 27, 1890. This proof sheet was certified for use six weeks later on April 18. There are seven notes known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00545
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00545
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-11-04
- plate date
- 1902-04-04
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- First National Bank and Trust Company of Corning
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.025847
- catalog number
- 297219.025847
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 2655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $5-5-5-5 of the German American National Bank of Washington, DC, 1877
- Description
- National bank note proof of the German American National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 2358. $5-5-5-5, 1872. The image on the left is Christopher Columbus approaching land. On the right is an Indian Princess representing America being presented to the Old World as engraved by W.W. Rice based on a work by T.A. Liebler. This bank was chartered on May 14, 1877 and went into receivership on November 1, 1878. Only two notes are known among collectors for this short-lived bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1914
- 1906
- 1877
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00555
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00555
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-10-19
- plate date
- 1901-04-02
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- Plattsburg National Bank and Trust Company
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.026437
- catalog number
- 297219.026437
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 5785
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the National City Bank of Washington, DC, 1905
- Description
- National bank note proof of the National City Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 7936. $10-10-10-20, 1905. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was organized in October, 1905 and was liquidated on May 1, 1911. Only one note is known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00549
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00549
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the Columbia National Bank of Washington, DC, 1877
- Description
- National bank note proof from the Columbia National Bank of Washington DC, $10-10-10-20. Charter number 3625. The $10 note features the image of Ben Franklin flying a kite on the left and an image of an eagle and Liberty grasping a lightning bolt on the right. The $20 note features an image of the Battle of Lexington on the left and Liberty marching with a flag on the right. The bank was chartered on January 1, 1887. There are thirty-two large size notes and thirty-nine small size notes issued after 1929 known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00543
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00543
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the Lincoln National Bank of Washington, DC, 1909
- Description
- National bank note proof of the Lincoln National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 4247. $10-10-10-20, 1909. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. The Financial Panic of 1907 prompted Congress to pass the Aldrich-Vreeland Act of 1908. This emergency law permitted banks issuing national bank notes to substitute “or other securities” for United States Bonds deposited with the Treasurer to back up the national bank notes between 1908 and 1915. It was intended to increase the supply of circulating money during that period. The phrase “or other securities” appears on the face to reflect this change. The Lincoln National Bank was chartered in 1909 on the centennial of Lincoln’s birth. Seventeen large size notes and 53 small size notes after 1929 are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00546
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00546
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-10 of the Dupont National Bank of Washington, DC, 1918
- Description
- National bank note proof of the Franklin National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 10825. $10-10-10-20, 1918. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was chartered in February, 1916 and liquidated on April 1, 1922. Only five notes are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1914
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00553
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00553
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $50-100 of the Federal-American National Bank of Washington, DC, 1922
- Description
- National bank note proof from the National Capital Bank of Washington DC, $50-100. Charter number 10316. The $50 note features the portrait of John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury from 1877 to 1881, and Secretary of State from 1897 to 1898. The $100 note depicts John J. Knox, Comptroller of the Currency from 1872 to 1884. National bank notes usually had four signatures on the faces; two Treasury officials and two signatures of officers in the bank that issued the notes. This proof sheet shows an interesting feature that occurred occasionally during the 1920’s where the bank would instruct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to engrave the bank officers’ signatures, in this case Charles Boyer as Cashier and John Poole as President. This bank was organized on January 15, 1913 and changed its title to Federal-American on October 31, 1922 when this bank absorbed the American National Bank, Charter 6712 on that date. The title change was certainly the occasion for producing this plate a month after the change occurred. This was the only bank in D.C. to issue Series of 1902 plain backs in these denominations of $50 and $100. The bank went into receivership October 31, 1933. There are eleven large size notes with the new bank title and twenty-five notes with the earlier title known among collectors.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00551
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00551
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $5-5-5-5 of the American National Bank of Washington, DC, 1922
- Description
- National bank note proof of the American National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 6716. $5-5-5-5, 1922. The portrait on the left is Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third President of the United States. His grandfather was also President and his father was a member of the House of Representatives. This bank was chartered in April, 1903 and closed on October 31, 1922. There are twenty-six large size notes known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00547
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00547
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-10-23
- plate date
- 1901-02-12
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- Scottsville National Bank
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.042905
- catalog number
- 297219.042905
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 5725
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-10 of the Franklin National Bank of Washington, DC, 1914
- Description
- National bank note proof of the Franklin National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 10504. $10-10-10-20, 1914. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was organized on April 3, 1914. Twenty-four large size notes and twenty-eight small size notes after 1929 are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1914
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00552
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00552
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the National Bank of Washington, DC, 1920
- Description
- National bank note proof of the National Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 3425. $10-10-10-20, 1920. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. The $20 note shows a portrait of Hugh McCulloch who was Comptroller of the Currency during the Civil War and later served as Secretary of the Treasury. These notes were from the Series of 1902. This bank was chartered in 1885. Fifty-three large size notes and 117 small size notes after 1929 are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1872
- 1920
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00542
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00542
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-02-05
- plate date
- 1901-12-02
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- Union National Bank of Lowell
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.016377
- catalog number
- 297219.016377
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 6077
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $5-5-5-5 of the Central National Bank of Washington City, DC, 1906
- Description
- National bank note proof from the National Metropolitan Bank of Washington DC. Charter 2382. $5-5-5-5, 1906. The image on the left is President James Garfield who was assassinated in 1881 soon after he was elected. This note was from the Series of 1882. This bank was first chartered on April 15, 1878. It was liquidated on March 28, 1907. There are fourteen notes known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1914
- 1906
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00554
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00554
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1920-01-26
- plate date
- 1900-10-15
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Roberts, Ellis Henry
- Register of the Treasury
- Lyons, Judson Whitlocke
- issuing bank
- Citizens National Bank of Cincinnati
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.029527
- catalog number
- 297219.029527
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 2495
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-10 of the District National Bank of Washington, DC, 1909
- Description
- National bank note proof of the National City Bank of Washington, DC, Charter 9545. $10-10-10-10, 1905. The $10 note shows a portrait on the left of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, who was shot at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo and died September 14, 1901. These notes were from the Series of 1902. The Financial Panic of 1907 prompted Congress to pass the Aldrich-Vreeland Act of 1908. This emergency law permitted banks issuing national bank notes to substitute “or other securities” for United States Bonds deposited with the Treasurer to back up the national bank notes between 1908 and 1915. It was intended to increase the supply of circulating money. The phrase “or other securities” appears on the face to reflect this change. This bank was organized on September 8, 1909 and went into receivership on November 11, 1933. Forty-eight large size notes and forty-seven small size notes after 1929 are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00550
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00550
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proof sheet for $10-10-10-20 of the West End National Bank of Washington, DC, 1891
- Description
- National bank note proof from the Columbia National Bank of Washington DC, $10-10-10-20. Charter number 4195. The $10 note features the image of Ben Franklin flying a kite on the left and an image of an eagle and Liberty grasping a lightning bolt on the right. The $20 note features an image of the Battle of Lexington on the left and Liberty marching with a flag on the right. The bank was chartered on January 7, 1890. It was liquidated on April 23, 1903. It consolidated with Citizens’ National Bank of Washington, Charter 1893, which in turn was liquidated on November 7, 1904. Only two notes are known among collectors for this bank.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1872
- 1920
- 1899
- 1890
- 1909
- 1922
- 1904
- 1905
- 1885
- 1896
- 1893
- 1891
- 1914
- 1906
- 1877
- ID Number
- NNC.297219.00556
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- NU*297219.00556
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
