, Colorado, USA
1891 - June 21 – First long-distance transmission of alternating current by the Ames power plant near Telluride, Colorado, by Lucien and Paul Nunn.

On June 21, 1891, a significant milestone in the history of electrical engineering occurred with the first long-distance transmission of alternating current (AC) by the Ames power plant near Telluride, Colorado. Spearheaded by brothers Lucien and Paul Nunn, this pioneering effort marked a pivotal advancement in the utilization of AC for practical purposes. The Ames power plant successfully transmitted electricity over a distance of about three miles to power a motor in the Gold King Mine, demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of AC for long-distance electrical transmission.

This achievement was instrumental in the broader adoption of AC over direct current (DC), which had been the dominant form of electrical transmission up to that point. The success of the Ames power plant project provided a practical validation of the theories and innovations developed by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, who championed the AC system. This event underscored the superiority of AC in terms of reducing energy losses over long distances, ultimately paving the way for the widespread electrification that transformed modern society.


June 21, 1891

Visit Colorado, USA
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.