The Birthplace of Electricity

On Dec. 20, National Grid hosted media, elected officials and other stakeholders at its historic Niagara Falls Power Transfer Station to celebrate new artwork that now adorns the covered arched windows. The new artwork pays homage to Nikola Tesla, George Westinghouse and the role that the facility played in transferring electricity for the first time in world history.

The building, which dates to 1895, is located in North Tonawanda. Also known as the North Tonawanda Transformer Building, it links to the earliest days of pioneering electricity engineering technology. In the building's earliest days, Tesla and Westinghouse worked in the region. It was Tesla's theory, technology and inventions that made the transmission of alternating current a reality in America and eventually, the world.

In 1896 the transmission of alternating current from Niagara Falls - through the North Tonawanda Transformer Building - was achieved in Buffalo.

At the time the site, located between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, was critical in the transfer of electricity. Today, the site also plays an important role in our ability to service National Grid customers: In recent years, the building has been renovated and is used it as a hub for workers, trucks and equipment.