Eklutna Power Plant
National Register of Historic Places

Eklutna Power Plant

Anchorage, Anchorage County, Alaska
Listed
June 19, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000746

About this property

The Eklutna Power Plant, also referred to as Old Eklutna Power Plant, is a historic hydroelectric power plant on the Eklutna River in Anchorage, Alaska. Located about 5 miles (8.0 km) downstream of the more modern new Eklutna Power Plant, it was built in 1928–29 to provide electrical power to the growing city, and served as its primary power source until 1956. The facilities include two dams, a tunnel and penstock, and a powerhouse. The main dam, Eklutna Dam, located at the northwestern end of Eklutna Lake, was built in 1941 to replace a series of temporary structures built after an earthen dam failed before the plant began operation. The diversion dam, a concrete arch dam, is located 7 miles (11 km) downstream from the lake, and provides facilities for diverting water into the tunnel. The tunnel is 1,900 feet (580 m) long, and is terminated in a penstock, a structure designed to raise the water pressure. The powerhouse is a concrete-and-steel structure completed in 1929. The diversion dam removal was completed in 2018 to allow for the passage of salmon. The power plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Location

Anchorage, Anchorage County, Alaska
61.45620, -149.33705

Categories

ECONOMICSENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Eklutna Power Plant listed on the National Register?

Eklutna Power Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Eklutna Power Plant?

Eklutna Power Plant is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Eklutna Power Plant?

The period of significance for Eklutna Power Plant is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1928.

Can I research the history near Eklutna Power Plant?

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