Georgetown Steam Plant - Landmark and Museum

Landmark and Museum

The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1984, and is also designated by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. At the time of its landmarking, it contained the "last operating examples of the world's first large scale, steam turbine". The building itself, "built by a fast-track construction process, was designed and supervised by Frank W. Gilbreth, later a nationally famous proponent of efficiency engineering." The building is also a Seattle City Landmark and is on the Washington State Register of Historic Places.

Paul Carosino and Lilly Tellefson founded the Georgetown PowerPlant Museum to restore, maintain and operate the plant. The group was officially founded April 25, 1995. Carosino and Tellefson initially served as joint executive directors; Tellefson took over the role after Carosino's death in 1996.

The plant remains owned by Seattle City Light, the city's public electric utility; they lease it to the museum. The museum operates an accredited School of Technology; it opens to the general public from 1 to 5pm on the first Sunday of each month, when it also hosts hobbyist "steam meets". Simultaneously with the steam meets, the Puget Sound Garden Railroad Society operates a miniature steam railroad on the grounds. The May steam meet is a picnic, with numerous temporary exhibits.

The plant houses the last operable examples of early vertical steam generating turbines, as well as reciprocating steam engines, which are also operational, a collection of vintage machining tools, and several smaller steam engines.

The plant was the site of the last performance of the rock band Big Black.