RECHARGING A PIECE OF ENERGY HISTORY

RECHARGING A PIECE OF ENERGY HISTORY

3.29.05

In the late 1800’s Thomas Edison waged a public relations war in an attempt to establish the superiority of Direct Current over Alternating Current. At first Edison was successful in convincing the public that AC was dangerous, soundly defeating his former colleague Nikola Telsa, who had developed many of the original processes for the transmission and use of AC. Edison went so far as to publicly electrocute an elephant to demonstrate the dangers of AC. He also used his political influence to pass a New York state law requiring the state to use AC for the electric chair and no other state purpose. After the first inmate was electrocuted, Edison appeared in the newspapers saying AC was “death current” and too dangerous to use. Tesla was no match for Edison’s marketing skills. He retreated to his lab where he continued to engage in research and demonstrations of the advantages of AC. George Westinghouse picked up many of his patents and continued “the war of currents.”

In 1891, Westinghouse built the first commercial AC generation plant for a mine owner in Telluride, Colorado. The success of this project convinced entrepreneurs in nearby Durango to build a coal fired steam powered AC generation plant on the Animas River. The plant, which was completed in 1893, powered the electric lampposts and the streetcar for Durango. The frontier town was electrified before cities like New York or Chicago.

Durango’s technological move was matched with an equally bold architectural one. The plant’s mission style industrial architecture is the first known use of this signature Southwest building style outside of California. The plant’s architectural style earned the Durango Power House listings on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

At the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Westinghouse successfully demonstrated the advantages and economies of A/C current. This was the turning point for the use of A/C current.

The small AC generating power plants, like the Durango Power House, established the eventual dominance of Alternating Current. However, almost all of these original plants have been torn down and replaced by more modern plants. Through a series of fortuitous lack of such events, the Durango Power House stands today. Although it does not have its original AC generator, the surviving equipment in the Durango power plant is a mix of technology from the early 1900s to 1972, when operations finally ceased. Included in the inventory is a 1906 General Electric 500 kilowatt turbine.

Pictured above is a Heine boiler, probably built in 1906.

After its closure in 1972, the Durango Power House remained vacant and neglected in central Durango until the city acquired it from the local electric cooperative. At first the city hoped to sell it to a developer, but was unable to find any takers, primarily due to the daunting task of removing asbestos (not to mention cleaning up years of pigeon droppings) and providing vehicular access to the building. By 2000, the city considered tearing down the old building and it was listed on Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Most Endangered Places list.

Saving a Hidden Gem

A small non-profit group, the Children’s Museum of Durango (CMD), led a petition drive to save the building. CMD is housed in cramped attic space of the local community arts center. In 2002, the City of Durango and the CMD reached an agreement on a plan to rescue the plant and build an interactive museum, the Durango Discovery Museum (DDM). The ambitious plan focuses on saving the design and integrity of the Durango Power House as the main exhibit hall. The plan also includes construction of an addition which will provide for additional exhibit space, classrooms, administrative offices, a small café and a gift shop. The plan also includes an outdoor public plaza which will allow for outdoor displays and a unique carousel featuring animals native to the region. The entire project, including the historical rehabilitation and site work, follows criteria for sustainability and energy efficiency established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The exhibits program will focus on the past, present and future of energy technology and the role it plays in our lives. The exhibits of the past will allow visitors to view refurbished equipment, experience hands on learning about the basic physics of electrical generation, and to learn about famous inventors such as Tesla, Edison, Westinghouse, Stanley, and Crane. Exhibits of the present day energy story will feature current mainstream technologies and existing alternative technologies. Displays of the future will consider events and innovation that will likely impact the future of energy.

There was considerable skepticism about whether the CMD could muster the resources necessary to fund the DDM plan. John Gamble, who was a city councilman at the time that the plan was under consideration questioned the ability of the group to raise the funds necessary for the initial restoration and site plan and to make DDM self-supporting. He explained that “his hand was on the throttle to knock [the power house] down.” However, based on the work CMD members put into creating a comprehensive plan and their vision of the project, he cast the deciding vote to accept the proposal.

More Hills to Climb

The City of Durango has already done much of the initial site work, including asbestos removal. However, restoration of the building and the other aspects of the plan are projected to cost in excess of $5 million. According to Jeff Vierling, Project Manager, DDM has been able to obtain $1 million through a variety of historical restoration grants and local donations. These funds have allowed DDM to start on its first phase, and the restoration work has begun. Contacted recently, Gamble observed that CDM “still has a lot of hills to climb.” Durango City Manager Bob Ledger acknowledged that although the group has shown zeal in pursuing near term funding, it will be necessary to go outside of the community to make the project a success.

DDM hopes to rely on volunteers to continue fund raising. Durango and the surrounding area have a small population base for such an ambitious museum. The local economy is primarily based on tourism. Vierling notes that DDM has received wide community support and is optimistic that the unique nature of this project will generate a broader interest beyond its historical roots, such as in the energy industry and perhaps engineering schools.

Making DDM financially sustainable is another challenge. DDM is relying on local and regional use of the museum and tourists – a visit to the museum will fit right in with other local attractions, such as the narrow gauge train that travels daily to Silverton during the summer months, and nearby Mesa Verde National Park. Its location, near central Durango on the Animas River, will help attract visitors. Vierling has suggested that the museum could be a good location for special events related to the energy, such as competitions among students and enthusiasts. Anyone for a Tesla coil challenge?

Will the bold and ambitious plan of the Durango Discovery Museum succeed? Building of the Durango Power House with its innovative technology and architecture was no less of a risk. The plant has remained standing through a century of change. If successful, DDM’s plan will salvage and revive the connection of the Durango Power House to the origins of electrical energy distribution.

For more information about the Durango Discovery Museum: www.durangodiscovery.org .

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