By what decade were many cities lit up by arc lamps?

By what decade were many cities lit up by arc lamps?

• A. 1860s
• B. 1840s
• C. 1880s
• D. 1900s

Answer: (A)

Arc lighting marks one of the first major steps in using electricity to illuminate city streets. An arc lamp produces bright light by creating an electric arc between carbon electrodes, which was bright enough to light large public spaces and improve nighttime visibility. In the 1860s, several cities began adopting arc lighting for streets and public squares as improvements in the technology reduced costs and maintenance challenges. This makes that decade the period when many cities first shifted from gas or oil lamps toward electric illumination, setting the stage for broader urban electrification in the following decades.

Arc lighting marks one of the first major steps in using electricity to illuminate city streets. An arc lamp produces bright light by creating an electric arc between carbon electrodes, which was bright enough to light large public spaces and improve nighttime visibility. In the 1860s, several cities began adopting arc lighting for streets and public squares as improvements in the technology reduced costs and maintenance challenges. This makes that decade the period when many cities first shifted from gas or oil lamps toward electric illumination, setting the stage for broader urban electrification in the following decades.