Time line

Honor Assignment

  • The Beginning

    The Beginning
    Ben Franklin tied a key onto a kite during a storm and proved that static electricity and lightning were the same. His correct understanding of the nature of electricity paved the way for the future.
  • Electric Telegraph

    Electric Telegraph
    Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph, a machine that could send messages long distances across wire.
  • The creation of the electric motor

    The creation of the electric motor
    Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor, an invention that is used in most electrical appliances today.
  • Fuel Cell

    Sir William Robert Grove developed the first fuel cell, a device that produces electrical energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Alternating current energy system

    Alternating current energy system
    William Stanley developed the induction coil transformer and an alternating current electric system.
  • Wind Turbine

    Wind Turbine
    In Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. scientist and businessman Charles Brush builds the first wind turbine to generate electricity. Measuring 17 meters tall and using 144 cedar rotor blades, it has a capacity of 12 kilowatts.
  • Solar Power

    Solar Power
    French scientist Henry Becquerel observes the production of electricity directly from the sun while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes placed in an electricity-conducting solution.
  • Geothermal Electric Power Plant

    Geothermal Electric Power Plant
    Italian scientist Piero Ginori Conti invents the first geothermal electric power plant.
  • Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant

    Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant
    Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant, was built in Russia and was considered the first nuclear power plant.