Water Power Development at Falls of Chattahoochee, Chattahoochee River, Columbus, Muscogee County, GA

Significance: As the Chattahoochee crosses the fall line at Columbus, Georgia, it falls 125 feet within 2 1/2 miles producing a potential energy of between 66,000 and 99,000 horsepower. That water power made Columbus one of the leading industrial centers within the South, attracting investors and entrepreneurs. As early as 1828 the river powered a grist mill and by the 1840s it supplied power for several textile mills. By 1880 Muscogee h.p. per sq. mile was greater than any other county south of New York. Conversion of that power to electricity began with arc lighting in 1880. The first central station hydroelectric plant started operating in 18894. Since that date, four other dams (1900, 1911, 1928, and 1959) harness the Falls of the Chattahoochee developing 115,000 kilowatts.
Survey number: HAER GA-22
Building/structure dates: 1828 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1834- 1899 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1900- 1924 Subsequent Work