click zoom to display a high-res image
Publication Information
Physical Description
Collection Information
Copyright Information
W014DUI
WHi 28333
Image
Digital Collections
Explore more than 100,000 collection items online through the Society’s digital collections. For over two decades, we’ve been scanning, photographing, and digitizing materials from our collections, creating a rich and growing digital archive that brings history closer to you.
The Wisconsin Historical Society offers an ever-growing digital collection. Digitized materials reflect the full range of items in the collections including photographs, letters, newsletters, films, posters, architectural drawings, menus, and ephemera.
Attribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Accessing Collections
The vast majority of the items in our collections are not online. The Society owns thousands of archival collections viewable in our Archives reading room. To view and conduct research in our collections, visit us in person.
First Central Station
1882
Building housing the very first central electric light station for distribution of incandescent lighting. The sign on the building reads: "Vulcan St."
Early Electrical Switchboard
1882
A man shows off an incandescent lamp switchboard with bamboo filiament, lamp receptacle with wooden base, current and pressure indicators and controlling devices at the electrical plant operated by...
Hydroelectric Central Station
1954
Exterior view of a reproduction of the world's first hydroelectric central station. It is located near the site of the original, which began operation on September 30, 1882.
"Hearthstone" Plaque
Plaque describing "Hearthstone," the home built by paper mill owner, Henry J. Rogers. The residence was the first dwelling electrified from a centrally located hydorelectric plant.
Vulcan Street Power Plant
Fox River
The first Edison hydroelectric central station to serve a system of private and commercial customers in North America that began operation on September 30, 1882. The story of its development provid...
