Near Diablo in Whatcom County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Transmission Lines
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015
1. Transmission Lines Marker
Transmission lines are a visible link between these remote mountain lakes and densely populated urban areas. Gorge was the first of the Skagit power projects to go on line. On September 17, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge pressed a gold telegraph key in Washington, D.C., sending electricity from the Gorge Power House to Seattle, along lines hung from wooden poles.
Today high-capacity lines hang from metal towers and criss-cross the mountain scenery. As falling water turns huge turbines in the Upper Skagit power plants, the electricity generated travels in power lines along a portion of the North Cascades Highway.
(photo captions)
Linemen on the high-capacity transmission towers, ca. 1930s
Seattle by night
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #30 Calvin Coolidge series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1924.
Location. 48° 42.004′ N, 121° 12.577′ W. Marker is near Diablo, Washington, in Whatcom County. It can be reached from North Cascades Highway (Washington Route 20 at milepost 125), 2½ miles west of Diablo Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located along the Gorge Overlook
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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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chain of Dams (within shouting distance of this marker); Gorge High Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); Lighting of the Falls (approx. 2.2 miles away); Electric Forest (approx. 2.2 miles away); Welcome to Ladder Creek Falls & Gardens (approx. 2.2 miles away); Gorge Powerhouse (approx. 2.3 miles away); Old Number 6 (approx. 2½ miles away); The North Cascades (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Diablo.
More about this marker. Marker is a large, framed, rectangular composite plaque, mounted horizontally, at waist-level, on the overlook railing.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Skagit River Hydroelectric Project
Also see . . . Hydroelectric power from Skagit River reaches Seattle. During construction, the power lines had been used for a telephone system. When the power system was first tested, all the telephones on the project rang. Once this problem was solved, operators had to learn how to supply an even current to customers 100 miles away. If the water
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015
2. Transmission Lines Marker (wide view)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 28, 2015
3. Power Transmission Lines over nearby Diablo Lake (Skagit River)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 29, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
