Stairs Station Hydroelectric Power Plant - Utah Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The plaque is inscribed:
Stairs Station Hydroelectric Power Plant
The Stairs Project was built in 1894-96 as the first hydroelectric power plant to provide electricity to Salt Lake City. It was one of the first plants in Utah to transmit power long distance, using alternating current rather than direct current. In addition to the powerhouse, other elements of the historic complex include the dam, conduit, and penstock—all critical components of a hydroelectric project. The power plant is ideally located to take advantage of the Stairs cascade on Big Cottonwood Creek.

During the late nineteenth century, a combination of technological developments, capitalist enterprise, and economic demands led to the creation of Utah's hydroelectric power industry. Small utility companies around the state built water power plants to generate electricity, mostly for streetcar systems, mines, and other industries. Cities and small towns also consumed power for municipal, commercial, and domestic use. By the early twentieth century, a merger and consolidation movement among Utah's utilities culminated in the formation of the Utah Power & Light Company (UP&L). In 1989, UP&L merged with PacifiCorp, an Oregon corporation, which continues to operate the Stairs Project.

Marker Name: Stairs Station Hydroelectric Power Plant Marker Type: City Addtional Information: This facility and all of its accoutrements mentioned on the plaque are on the National Register of Historic Places as an Historic District. County: Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City Group Responsible for Placement: Utah State Historical Society Date Dedicated: 1995 Marker Number: Not listed Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/06/2012 Chasing Blue Sky visited it 07/18/2011 Mom the Cook & cashnhubby visited it 05/10/2011 The_Simpsons visited it 05/09/2011 Mooroid visited it

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