Electric Lights In Wabash Indiana Made This City Famous

Learn how Wabash, Indiana was the first city in the world to get electric lights in its streets. You’d never believe that this small town was so advanced so long ago.

The Hoosier State is full of surprises and history lessons that will make you proud. Scroll on to learn all about this one.

Wabash, Indiana is known as the “First Electrically Lighted City” in the world, and it’s one of the greatest things that ever happened to this small river town.

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Today, we are used to seeing street lights all up and down city roads at night, but there was a time when this wasn’t the case.

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Edison invented the light bulb in 1879, and it changed the world. People were able to light up their homes, and someone thought this might work in the streets.

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In 1880, a man from Ohio by the name of Charles F. Brush came up with the idea for his street lights, but he just needed a town in which to try them out.

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Wabash was willing to give it a go, and the rest is history. Four 3,000 candlepower lamps were placed atop the Wabash County Courthouse, and in this town of fewer than 500 people, about 10,000 came to see the specter.

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The original 1880 Brush lights are still on display at the courthouse for guests and visitors to see. Typically just locals know the history behind this unique nickname, but now you will too.

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Even more so than its famous song, “On The Banks Of The Wabash,” this town is known for its advancements in technology and infrastructure.

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What do you know about the electric lights in Wabash? Share your thoughts on the history of this town with us below in the comments.