Otis Singleton
The history of street lighting dates back to ancient times, with people using torches and other burning materials to light their way at night. The first gas-powered streetlights were introduced in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer William Murdoch, who first demonstrated gas lighting in his home in 1792. By the 1820s, more than 40,000 gas lamps illuminated the streets of London. However, the first electric street lights didn't appear until the late 1870s, with Paris, France, becoming the first city to illuminate its streets with electricity in 1878.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First city to use electric street lights | Paris, France |
| Date of installation | 1878 |
| Street | Place de la Concorde |
| Inventor of the arc lamp | French physicist Georges Claude |
| First municipal government to purchase and install the Brush arc lighting system | Wabash, Indiana |
| Date | 31 March 1880 |
| First city in the Southern Hemisphere and in Africa to have electric streetlights | Kimberley, Cape Colony (modern South Africa) |
| Date | 2 September 1882 |
| First city in Germany to have electric public lighting | Nuremberg |
| Date | 7 June 1882 |
| First US city to convert all of its downtown streetlights to LED technology | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
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What You'll Learn
Paris, France, 1878
Paris, France, has a strong claim to hosting the world's first electric streetlights in 1878. Prior to this, Paris, like other cities, had used lanterns, candles, and oil lamps to provide illumination at night.
The first electric streetlights in Paris were known as arc lamps or Yablochkov (or 'Jablotchkoff') candles, invented by the Russian Pavel Yablochkov in 1875. They were first installed on the Place de la Concorde in 1841, although this was only experimental. The first permanent electric streetlights in Paris were erected in June 1878 on the Avenue de l'Opera (also known as the Place de l'Opéra or L'avenue del'Opera), around the Arc de Triomphe, and on the Place d'Etoile. They were designed by the French physicist Georges Claude, who used his newly invented arc lamp to light the street. The Yablochkov candles were also used to light the Grands Magasins du Louvre, where 80 were deployed, contributing to Paris's reputation as the ''City of Lights'.
The electric streetlights were a significant improvement on previous forms of lighting, as they produced a much brighter and more reliable light. They also created very deep shadows, and their harsh glare was not to everyone's taste. However, the success of the Paris system inspired other cities around the world to adopt electric lighting. By the early 20th century, electric lighting had become the standard for public lighting in most urban areas.
Paris has since become famous for its street lighting, with many different types and styles employed throughout the city. The Champs-Élysées, for example, has tall, modern standards, while the Pont Alexandre III features elaborate lamps. The lantern-style design of many of the city's streetlights has been carefully preserved, blending modernity with the timeless charm of Parisian streets.
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Wabash, Indiana, 1880
On March 31, 1880, the city of Wabash, Indiana, became the first in the world to be completely illuminated by electric lighting. Wabash achieved this feat by installing Charles F. Brush's arc lighting system, which consisted of four Brush Lights with 3,000 candle power each, placed on top of the Wabash County Courthouse. This event marked a significant technological advancement, as it demonstrated the potential of electric lighting to illuminate an entire city at night.
The people of Wabash were overwhelmed with awe as the powerful lights drove away the darkness, allowing them to see and read on the city's streets after sunset. The light towers were described as "exceeding in power only by the sun," rendering the square as bright as midday. The electric lights not only improved visibility but also enhanced public safety, particularly with the increasing automobile traffic in the city.
Prior to the adoption of electric lighting, Wabash, like many other cities, relied on oil and gas lamps for illumination. However, the Brush electric arc light system offered a more economical and brighter alternative. Authorities in Wabash recognised that this new lighting system would cost $800 less per year than gas lighting while providing greater illumination. This decision marked the beginning of a global revolution, as other cities followed suit, transitioning from traditional oil and gas lamps to electric lighting.
The success of the Brush lighting system in Wabash led to its deployment in other major cities across America, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Chicago. Charles F. Brush played a pivotal role in the electrification of street lighting, and his innovations paved the way for the formation of General Electric in 1892 through a merger with the Edison General Electric Co. Wabash's historic achievement as the first electrically lighted city continues to be commemorated and celebrated even today.
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Kimberley, Cape Colony, 1882
On 1 September 1882, Kimberley, Cape Colony (modern-day South Africa) became the first city in the Southern Hemisphere and in Africa to have electric streetlights. Sixteen streetlights were lit on that day. The system was only the second in the world, after Philadelphia, to be powered municipally.
The first electric streetlights employed arc lamps, initially the 'Electric candle', 'Jablotchkoff candle' or 'Yablochkov candle' developed by a Russian, Pavel Yablochkov, in 1875. This was a carbon arc lamp employing alternating current, which ensured that both electrodes were consumed at equal rates.
In 1876, the common council of the city of Los Angeles ordered four arc lights installed in various places for street lighting. On 30 May 1878, the first electric streetlights in Paris were installed on the avenue de l'Opera and the Place de l'Étoile, around the Arc de Triomphe, to celebrate the opening of the Paris Universal Exposition.
In 1881, to coincide with the Paris International Exposition of Electricity, streetlights were installed on the major boulevards. The first streets in London lit with the electrical arc lamp were by the Holborn Viaduct and the Thames Embankment in 1878. More than 4,000 were in use by 1881, though by then an improved differential arc lamp had been developed by Friedrich von Hefner-Alteneck of Siemens & Halske.
The United States was quick in adopting arc lighting, and by 1890 over 130,000 were in operation in the US, commonly installed in exceptionally tall moonlight towers. Arc lights had two major disadvantages. Firstly, they emit an intense and harsh light which, although useful at industrial sites like dockyards, was discomforting in ordinary city streets. Secondly, they are maintenance-intensive, as carbon electrodes burn away swiftly.
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San Jose, Costa Rica, 1884
On 9 August 1884, San Jose in Costa Rica became one of the first cities in the world to be illuminated with electric lighting. It was the first city in Latin America to be electrified, and the third in the world, following New York and Paris.
The introduction of electricity to San Jose was a significant event, transforming daily life in the city. The night of 9 August 1884 was unforgettable for Costa Ricans, as the electrical service was inaugurated in San Jose at 6:15 pm. President Próspero Fernández came out to his balcony in the Presidential Palace, and curious crowds arrived from Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia to witness the historic moment.
The electric lighting in San Jose was made possible by a small hydroelectric plant, powered by diverting water pipes that usually fed a pool for cooling oxen. The power plant stood as a testament to local ingenuity, inspired by Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station in New York. The vision of Manuel Víctor Dengo and Luis Beltrán from Guatemala was instrumental in this development, leading to the founding of the Compañía Eléctrica de Costa Rica.
The early adoption of electricity in San Jose remains a source of national pride for Costa Rica. The country has continued to be a leader in sustainability and renewable energy, with a significant portion of its electricity sourced from hydro, wind, and geothermal power.
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Nuremberg, Germany, 1882
The first electric street lights were arc lamps, also known as "electric candles" or "Jablotchkoff candles", developed by Russian Pavel Yablochkov in 1875. These carbon arc lamps used alternating current to ensure that both electrodes were consumed at equal rates.
In 1882, the same year that Thomas Edison invented the first commercially viable incandescent light bulb, the first public street lighting in Germany was inaugurated in Berlin with 36 electric street lamps. That year, a power plant in Stuttgart is also said to have supplied electricity to 30 incandescent lamps.
However, the sources provided do not mention Nuremberg, Germany, in 1882 in relation to the first electric street lights. Instead, they indicate that the first electric street lights in Germany were installed in Berlin in 1882.
By 1914, 5% of Berlin's flats had electric lighting, and by the end of the 1920s, this figure had risen to over 50%. Germany made remarkable progress in electrification, with 70% of all households and 90% of farms connected to an electricity grid by the mid-1930s.
Today, Nuremberg, Germany, is a pioneer in efficient urban lighting, utilising innovative R2L2 LED street lights from Thorn Lighting. The city has successfully expanded its network of illuminated streets and roads while reducing energy consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric street lights were installed in Paris, France, in 1878.
The first electric street lighting system was installed on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
The lights were designed by the French physicist Georges Claude, who used his newly invented arc lamp to light the street.
Kimberley, Cape Colony (modern South Africa) was the first city in the Southern Hemisphere and in Africa to have electric streetlights. 16 streetlights were lit on 2 September 1882.
