The Age of Electricity

The Age of Electricity transformed human civilization between the 1870s and 1920s, fundamentally altering how people worked, lived, and communicated. This period witnessed the conversion of electrical theory into practical technologies that powered homes, factories, and cities across Europe and North America.

Key Inventors and Innovations

• Thomas Edison (1847-1931) developed the practical incandescent light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey, in 1879, and established the first commercial electric power station on Pearl Street in New York City in 1882
• Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), a Serbian-American engineer, invented the alternating current (AC) motor in 1887 and pioneered AC electrical distribution systems
• George Westinghouse (1846-1914) championed AC technology and built hydroelectric facilities at Niagara Falls, New York, beginning in 1895

Revolutionary Impact

The Niagara Falls Power Station generated 50,000 horsepower when it opened, demonstrating electricity's potential for large-scale industrial use. Electric lighting transformed urban streets and factories, while electric motors replaced steam power in manufacturing. By 1920, electricity had reached approximately 35 percent of American households, fundamentally reshaping daily life through refrigeration, cooking appliances, and artificial lighting.

Edison received the Edison Medal in 1923 from the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, recognizing his revolutionary contributions to electrical technology and its widespread adoption across industries and homes.

Reference:

Wikipedia: Electricity

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity