Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District
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Granite Power Station in 1971
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cottonwood Heights, Utah United States |
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| Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Renaissance |
| MPS | Electric Power Plants of Utah MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000283 |
| Added to NRHP | April 20, 1989 |
The Granite Hydroelectric Power Station is a historic power plant built a long time ago, between 1896 and 1897. It's located near Salt Lake City, Utah, in a place called Cottonwood Heights. This station uses the power of water to make electricity.
The plant includes a main building called the powerhouse, a transformer house, and special pipes called penstocks. It also has a small dam. The Granite Power Station is a great example of how electricity was made in the late 1800s. It's similar to the Stairs Station which is located further upstream.
What Does the Power Plant Look Like?
The main building, called the powerhouse, is made of brick and sits on a strong concrete base. It has fancy brickwork called corbeling. Inside, there's one big room with two special water wheels called Pelton wheels. These wheels help turn a generator to make electricity.
Long ago, there was even a small Pelton wheel that powered a work area inside the station. Water for the plant comes through steel pipes from the Stairs Station, which is higher up the canyon. The water drops about 450 feet (137 meters) to spin the wheels!
The transformer house is another building, also made of brick, but it's simpler than the powerhouse. There was also a house nearby for the plant operator, built with the same sand-colored bricks.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Plant
The Granite Power Station was started in 1896 by the Utah Power Company. This company also owned the Salt Lake City Railroad Company. The main goal was to create electricity for the city's streetcar system.
At first, the power station had some problems and didn't always work as expected. Over the years, it changed owners a few times. In 1912, Utah Power and Light took over the plant. Later, in 1989, a company called PacifiCorp became the owner. They still operate the site today, sometimes under the name Rocky Mountain Power.
Because of its importance and age, the Granite Power Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 20, 1989. This means it's a special place that is protected for its history.
