Georgetown Steam Plant facts for kids
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Seattle Electric Company Georgetown Steam Plant
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| Location | Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Stone & Webster Engineering; Frank B. Gilbreth |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002755 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | July 5, 1984 |
The Georgetown Steam Plant is a historic power plant. It is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It was built in 1906 for the Seattle Electric Company. Its main job was to create power for Seattle, especially for the city's streetcars.
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History of the Georgetown Steam Plant
The plant was first built by a company called Stone and Webster in 1906. It was one of the first buildings on the U.S. West Coast made with reinforced concrete. Reinforced concrete is concrete with steel bars inside to make it stronger.
Powering Early Seattle and Tacoma
The plant first made power for the Interurban Railway. This was a train line between Seattle and Tacoma. It also provided two types of electricity:
- Direct current (DC) for Seattle's streetcars. DC electricity flows in one direction.
- Alternating current (AC) for Georgetown, which was a separate city back then. AC electricity changes direction many times per second.
The plant used new steam turbine technology from General Electric. A steam turbine is like a giant fan spun by steam, which then makes electricity. This technology was very advanced for its time. It marked a big change in how electricity was made on a large scale. Before this, most power came from older "reciprocating steam engines." These engines used pistons moving back and forth, like in a car engine.
Changes Over the Years
The plant was originally built next to a bend in the Duwamish River. This allowed it to use river water for cooling. But in 1917, the river channel was straightened. This left the plant inland, away from the river.
In 1912, the Puget Sound Traction and Lighting Company bought the Seattle Electric Company. This company is now called Puget Sound Energy. The Georgetown Steam Plant kept powering the Seattle-to-Tacoma Interurban and Seattle streetcars. It also provided power to homes and factories in Georgetown.
The plant first used oil for fuel. But in 1917, it switched to coal. As new power sources like hydropower (electricity from water dams) were built in the 1910s and 1920s, the steam plant became less needed. It was mostly used only for emergencies. The last time it made electricity was in January 1953. This was when water levels at the dams were low. The plant officially stopped operating in 1972.
A Historic Landmark and Museum
The Georgetown Steam Plant is a very important building. In 1984, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's recognized as a place of national importance. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers also named it a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
Inside the Historic Plant
When it became a landmark, the plant still had the "last operating examples of the world's first large scale, steam turbine." The building itself was built very quickly. Its design was overseen by Frank W. Gilbreth. He was famous for his ideas about making work more efficient. The building is also a Seattle City Landmark. It is listed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places.
The plant still has the last working examples of early vertical Curtis steam turbines. It also has working reciprocating steam engines. There is a collection of old machining tools and other smaller steam engines.
Visiting the Museum
In 1995, Paul Carosino and Lilly Tellefson started the Georgetown PowerPlant Museum. Their goal was to fix, keep, and run the plant. Sadly, Paul Carosino passed away in 1996. Lilly Tellefson continued to run the museum by herself. During this time, programs were created to use the plant to teach people about boilers and steam engines.
The plant is still owned by Seattle City Light. This is Seattle's public electric company. Since 2014, the plant has been open to the public once a month. You can visit on the second Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 2 PM.
In 2021, the City of Seattle approved a new plan for the plant. The Georgetown Steam Plant Community Development Authority (GSPCDA) will now help manage it. This new group will add more things to see and do at the plant. They will also create public programs. These programs will teach about history, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Images for kids
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Workers at the plant, 1909
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Inside the plant, 2008
