Anchor Event
1880s-1900
1880s-1900
Rise of Industrial America Era
Anchor Event
What Americans Were Trying To Do
Bring light, power, and later communication systems to cities and businesses.
What Happened
Electric utilities grew through private investment, municipal franchises, regulation, public rights-of-way, and sometimes public ownership. Cities had to decide who could use streets and how service would be governed.
How Public Finance Made It Possible
Public finance and public authority helped make networked services possible.
What This EnabledPeople benefited from street lightingsafer streetslonger workcommerce hours
How Americans BenefitedPeople benefited from street lightingsafer streetslonger workcommerce hours
Defining Moments
Top 100 Building Events
