Main Site List

 5 - Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District

  • Location:  4101 Big Cottonwood Canyon Road

  • Date:  1897

  • Significance:  This 100-year-old hydroelectric power plant takes its energy from the Big Cottonwood Creek, and still provides power today.  There are two historic power plants in this canyon, reminding us of the era when Utah became a U.S State and its growing population needed electricity.

Photo Title: Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant Station, February 9, 1907[1]  The power plant building can be seen in the right background of the photo (view is upcanyon.)

Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant was designed to meet the growing urban needs of Salt Lake City at the turn-of-the-century.  Due to the population boom, the city needed electricity for streetcars, lighting and other operations for expansion.  The Granite Plant utilized the steep, narrow creek to produce the needed electricity.  The new plant was clean and cost effective, and electricity could now be sent over long distances using alternating current. 

Beginning in 1896, the Utah Power Company, owned by the Salt Lake City Railroad Company, built the Granite Plant to provide power to the city’s streetcar system. The name “Granite” referred to the fact that the powerhouse was in the vicinity of the old Granite Paper Mill.  The power plant consists of a powerhouse, transformer house, wooden conduit, penstocks, and a small dam.  A powerhouse and transformer house were built from 1896-97 in the Second Renaissance Revival style with local, sandy-colored brick.   An operator’s residence was built in the Late Victorian style to house the caretaker since this location was somewhat remote from Salt Lake City and the station required constant care.  Initially, there were disputes about water rights and the separate ownership between the Granite Station and the Stairs Station (located 2 miles upstream).  In 1897, ownership of these two power stations merged.  There are 3 historic structures on this site listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Interesting Fact: In 1996, Granite Power Plant and Stairs Power Plant were recognized by the national organization Hydrovision International for being in service for over 100 years.

Photo Title: Utah Power Plant near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, c. 1900[2] (view upcanyon).  This photo also shows the condition of the main canyon road around 1900.

Photo Title: Current view downcanyon of the Granite Plant main building entrance[3]  

Photo Title: View downcanyon with the Granite Plant on the right and the creek running parallel to the canyon road.  The water treatment plant is the building with the green roof.[4] 

[1] Shipler Commercial Photographers. Granite Station p.2, February 9, 1907. Photograph, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City.  Shipler #2682, https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6cj8nr6. Accessed August 19, 2025.

[2] Photographer unknown. Utah Power Plant near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon ca. 1900.  Photograph. Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society, Brighton, UT. Charles Nickerson Collection, BCC Photos, BCC Scenic Historical, K003. Accessed February 17, 2025.

Photographer unknown.  Utah Light & Railway Company P.1.  Photograph. J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Photo Number 16801.  https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6kd263h.  Accessed August 19, 2025.

[3] Johnson, Max. Granite Plant Main Building, View Downcanyon.  December 17, 2024.  Photograph. Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society, Brighton, UT.

[4] Johnson, Max. Granite Plant with creek running alongside.  December 17, 2024.  Photograph. Big Cottonwood Canyon Historical Society, Brighton, UT.

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