Skip to Main Content

Solar Power in Olney, IL historical marker.

Birthplace Of Solar Power

Field review by the editors.

Olney, Illinois

You'd think that the birthplace of solar power would be someplace really sunny, like southern California or Florida. Or someplace known for its scientific research, like a university or a tech company. Not according to this plaque. "The first experimental solar power plant was built in Olney, Illinois," it reads, "by H.E. Willsie and John Boyle Jr." -- in 1902! The names Willsie and Boyle are not mentioned in textbooks along with Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse, which tells you all you need to know about the ultimate non-success of their experiments. And that maybe they really should have built their plant in Arizona.

Interestingly, 1902 was the same year in which white squirrels mysteriously appeared in the town of Olney. Coincidence? Or are Olney's bleached-out nutcrackers the unforeseen result of some sun-boosting experiment gone wildly wrong?

The "Birthplace of Solar Power" is a silly claim if it didn't actually work. Various timelines for solar power go back thousands of years to when people used glass or mirrors to concentrate heat from the sun. The goal was the ability to store solar energy and use it when you need it. After a century of bad descriptions and fanciful drawings of photovoltaic storage devices, Bell Labs tested the first actual usable solar battery in 1954. Seems like it worked; we've seen photos of happy science nerds in sunglasses on the Labs lawn at Murray Hill, New Jersey -- although it does not claim to be the Birthplace of Solar Power.

Birthplace Of Solar Power

City Park

Address:
584 N. West St., Olney, IL
Directions:
The marker is on the west side of White Squirrel Circle, which is in City Park, which is on the east side of Hwy 130/West St. about four blocks north of the intersection of Hwy 250/Main St.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Home of the White SquirrelsHome of the White Squirrels, Olney, IL - < 1 mi.
White Squirrel SouvenirsWhite Squirrel Souvenirs, Olney, IL - < 1 mi.
Auto Parts FamilyAuto Parts Family, Olney, IL - 1 mi.
In the region:
Taxidermy Decor, Poseyville, IN - 42 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Illinois

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Illinois.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Illinois Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings