Power Plant

In 1899 three competing railroad companies in Baltimore merged to form the United Railways and Electric Company. This company owned and operated more than 300 miles of streetcar tracks. To supply all of the electricity needed to feed the cars, a power plant was begun in 1900 on Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Built in stages and in three pieces it was designed by Henry Brauns of Baldwin and Pennington and finished in 1909. A granite foundation supports a steel structure and unpainted brick walls. Two engine rooms flanked the center boiler room. In 1921 Consolidated Gas and Electric Light and Power, the precursor to BG&E, bought the plant. It was used to generate steam to heat downtown buildings until 1973. The city bought it in 1979 and it spent the 80's as a 6 flags urban theme park and then as a nightclub. It is now home to big name restaurants and can be easily picked out from the other downtown buildings by the giant neon guitar supported by its smokestacks.

 

Facts and Figures

 Directions
4 smoke stacks: 13 ft in diameter, 192 ft. above the water

Area: 107,000 square feet
  • From the I-395 exit onto Howard St.
  • Continue past Camden Yards and turn right onto Pratt St.
  • From the I-83 turn right onto Lombard St.
  • Turn left on Gay St. and left again onto Pratt St.
  • The Power Plant will be on the right on Pier 4.

Map

 

References:

"Preservation in Baltimore" pamphlet, "Charmed Life" City Paper Column, 7/29/98