Lighting Up the Night: Rembrandt Peale's Gas-Powered Revolution in 1817 Baltimore

Let's thank Rembrandt Peale for the bright lights  in cities at night. 🌟

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In 1817, Baltimore became the first American city to have streetlights powered by gas, thanks to Peale's passion. 💡🌃

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Peale owned a Baltimore Museum of Arts and Sciences, and to attract more visitors started lighting his exhibits with carbureted hydrogen gas in 1816. Pretty soon, Baltimore's city leaders and investors caught on to the idea of using gas to light up the streets. Peale demonstrated the gas streetlight system to them, and just four days later 😮, they signed a contract  🚀 to provide light to the whole city.

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This led to the launch of the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore - the first gas utility in North America! Although gas lights were eventually replaced by electric lights, Exelon acquired the Gas and Light Company of Baltimore years ago, but the light is still here.

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Peale wasn't just a scientist, he was also a talented portrait painter whose works are now on display at the National Gallery of Art! 🎨🏛️