Anaheim in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Pelton Wheel

Photographed by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret), April 30, 2025

1. The Pelton Wheel Marker

Inscription. According to legend, Lester Pelton got his idea for a more powerful waterwheel from seeing a cow stick its nose into a stream of water. Patented in 1878, the divided metal cups of Pelton's wheel worked much the same way as the cleft between the cow's nostrils, enabling water to flow out to the sides, instead of bouncing straight back out of the cups. The water-powered wheel sent compressed air through pipes to drive pumps, drills, triphammers, and hoists in the mines. This simple concept proved so effective in turning the wheel faster and more efficiently that it is still used today in modern turbines around the world.

Erected by Disney California Adventure Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 33° 48.404′ N, 117° 55.258′ W. Marker is in Anaheim, California, in Orange County. It can be reached from Disneyland Drive. The marker is located by Grizzly River Run in Disney California Adventure Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim CA 92802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Steam Donkey (within shouting distance of this marker); The Millennium Tree (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Carthay Circle Theatre (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ficus macrophylla (approx. ¼ mile away); Town Square Cannon (approx. ¼ mile away); Lafitte's Anchor (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cascade Falls (approx. 0.3 miles away); Petrified Tree (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Anaheim.

The Pelton Wheel and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 11, 2012

2. The Pelton Wheel and Marker

Pelton Wheel Photo Displayed on Marker image. Click for full size.

3. Pelton Wheel Photo Displayed on Marker

Photo courtesy of Eastman Studio Postcards.

Lester Pelton image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 11, 2012

4. Lester Pelton

Photo Courtesy of Searles Historic Library.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2012. This page has been viewed 1,272 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on August 27, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on May 1, 2025, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 14, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.