Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park - Folsom, CA - Ranger Stations on Waymarking.com

"Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park is a historical site preserving an 1895 alternating current (AC) hydroelectric power station—one of the first in the United States.

Before the Folsom powerhouse was built nearly all electric power houses were using direct current (DC) generators powered by steam engines located within a very few miles of where the power was needed. The use of rushing water to generate hydroelectric power and then transmitting it long distances to where it could be used was not initially economically feasible as long as the electricity generated was low-voltage direct current. Once it was invented, AC power made it feasible to convert the electrical power to high voltage by using the newly invented transformers and to then economically transmit the power long distances to where it was needed. Lower voltage electrical power, which is much easier and safer to use, could be easily gotten by using transformers to convert the high voltage power to lower voltages near where it was being used. DC power cannot use a transformer to change its voltage. The Folsom Powerhouse, using part of the American River's rushing water to power its turbines connected to newly invented AC generators, generated three phase 60 cycle AC electricity (the same that's used today in the United States) that was boosted by newly invented transformers from 800 volts as generated to 11,000 volts and transmitted to Sacramento over a 22 mi (35 km)-long distribution line, one of the longest electrical distribution lines in the United States at the time." (visit link)

Permits: no Maps: yes Public Restrooms: yes Trail Conditions: no Website if it is available: [Web Link] Off Road Directions: Not listed Hours of Operation: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Logs should be accompanied by at least 1 image taken by you at the facility or if you do not have a camera a good description of the Waymark you are visiting.
This will give us proof you were actually there.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   05/01/2021 FolsomNatural visited it