Old Folsom Powerhouse

The Livermores had been cutting ditches on the American River since the 1850s, and the powerhouse is what all that water finally did. It started running in July 1895 and pushed eleven thousand volts down the line to Sacramento, a distance nobody had sent power before. The plant ran without a break until 1952, and Pacific Gas and Electric handed it to the state rather than scrap it. The original generating machinery is still standing where it was installed.

What the plaque says

Original Folsom Hydroelectric Plant In the 1850s, 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 Power House, 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. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 633 Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Sacramento Section, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, August 22, 1958

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — 18 mi
  The tailrace at Coloma where a carpenter found gold in January 1848 and the world came running.
• Sacramento — 19 mi
  The Gold Rush river port that became the state capital, and jacked itself ten feet into the air to stop drowning.

More markers nearby

• Folsom-Overland Pony Express Route in California — 0.3 mi
• Terminal of California's First Passenger Railroad — 0.4 mi
• Prairie City — 2.7 mi
• Coloma Road-Nimbus Dam — 3.8 mi