The History of Electricity

Electricity is one of the most important discoveries in history. Ancient people knew about lightning and static electricity, but they did not understand it. In the 1700s and 1800s, scientists learned how to create and use electricity. Today, electricity powers our homes, schools, and nearly everything around us.

Discovering Electricity

Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity with his famous kite experiment in 1752. Alessandro Volta invented the first battery in 1800. Michael Faraday figured out how to generate electricity using magnets. These discoveries opened the door to the electrical age.

Lighting Up the World

Thomas Edison created a practical light bulb in 1879 and built the first power station. Nikola Tesla developed the system of alternating current that powers our homes today. By the early 1900s, electricity was being used in cities across America and Europe. Electricity changed everything from how people work to how they have fun.

Fun Facts

• Thomas Edison tested over 6,000 materials before finding the right one for his light bulb.
• Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison had a famous rivalry over the best way to deliver electricity.
• The first city to have electric street lights was Cleveland, Ohio, in 1879.

Did You Know?

Before electric lights, people used candles, oil lamps, and gas lights to see at night, and most people went to sleep soon after dark.