Site 5 - Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District

Electricity came to Utah in 1881, produced in a steam-powered plant with a coal-fired boiler located in downtown Salt Lake City near the businesses it serviced. The Salt Lake Power, Light and Heating Company produced electricity for street and business lighting using a central power system, and Salt Lake City emerged as the fifth city in the world to adopt this system after London, New York, San Francisco, and Cleveland [2].

The potential for electricity use in Utah was obvious for mining, manufacturing, and transportation to move people and products. In the early years of electricity, transmission was limited to short distances with direct current.  Later, alternating current permitted power to be sent over longer distances which allowed canyons to become a power source. The canyon creeks that had driven grist and sawmills could now provide cheaper electricity away from the city with a clean, renewable source. This was a welcome change for city residents who sought electricity but not the light poles in the middle of the streets or the dirty coal plants [3].

Around 1890 there was intense local competition to provide power for the citywide, electric streetcar system. Granite Hydroelectric Power Plant was built to offer clean electricity at a competitive price. Initially, there were disputes about canyon 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 [4].  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.