Newhalem in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Gorge Powerhouse

Producing Power Since 1924

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

1. Gorge Powerhouse Marker

Inscription.
The powerhouse in front of you sent the first electric power from the Skagit Hydroproject to Seattle in 1924.

The rushing water underneath the powerhouse has just produced up to 170 megawatts of power, enough to light up almost 9,000 homes.

Visit Gorge Powerhouse’s visitor gallery – follow signs across the pedestrian bridge.

Bridging the Gap
The bridge to your left was built in 1935 to accommodate Gorge Powerhouse service vehicles. It was once a railroad bridge that carried construction equipment and materials to the powerhouse.

The small suspension bridge to your right was originally built in 1920 to provide construction workers with access to the powerhouse site. It has been rebuilt twice, most recently in 1953. Today you can use the bridge to reach the powerhouse and Ladder Creek Falls Garden.

Erected by Seattle City Light.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 48° 40.496′ N, 121° 14.512′ W. Marker is in Newhalem, Washington, in Whatcom County. It can be reached from North Cascades Highway (Newhalem

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Street) (Washington Route 20) 0.2 miles east of Main Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in a pull-out and parking lot on the south side of the highway overlooking the Skagit River and Gorge Powerhouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marblemount WA 98267, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to Ladder Creek Falls & Gardens (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Electric Forest (about 500 feet away); Lighting of the Falls (about 700 feet away); Old Number 6 (approx. ¼ mile away); Gorge High Dam (approx. 2.2 miles away); Transmission Lines (approx. 2.3 miles away); Chain of Dams (approx. 2.3 miles away); The North Cascades (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newhalem.

More about this marker. Marker is a framed rectangular composite plaque, mounted horizontally at waist-level on top of the overlook railing.

Regarding Gorge Powerhouse. National Register of Historic Places #89000499 (1989)

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Skagit River Hydroelectric Project

Also see . . .
1. Gorge Powerhouse Photographs (Library of Congress). This link presents an extensive gallery of historic photos

Gorge Powerhouse Marker (<i>wide view; Skagit River and Gorge Powerhouse in background</i>) image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

2. Gorge Powerhouse Marker (wide view; Skagit River and Gorge Powerhouse in background)

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Click for more information.

of the Gorge Powerhouse. (Submitted on January 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project is a series of dams with hydroelectric power-generating stations on the Skagit River in northern Washington State. The project is owned and operated by Seattle City Light to provide electric power for the City of Seattle and surrounding communities. (Submitted on January 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

1935 Gorge Powerhouse Service Bridge<br>(<i>across Skagit River, at north end of powerhouse</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

3. 1935 Gorge Powerhouse Service Bridge
(across Skagit River, at north end of powerhouse)

Gorge Powerhouse Lobby Entrance (<i>on back/mountain side of the powerhouse</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

4. Gorge Powerhouse Lobby Entrance (on back/mountain side of the powerhouse)

Gorge Powerhouse Control Room & Turbines (<i>view from lobby</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

5. Gorge Powerhouse Control Room & Turbines (view from lobby)

Gorge Powerhouse (<i>view from pedestrian bridge near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015

6. Gorge Powerhouse (view from pedestrian bridge near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,655 times since then and 203 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.