The Electric City Sign

Scranton may not be as well-known as Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, but neither city can claim to be the "Electric City." Scranton first used electric lights in 1880, and they proudly flaunt this with a massive lit sign that reads, "SCRANTON THE ELECTRIC CITY." However, the sign has been updated in recent years to reflect the energy-efficient ways of the twenty-first century, with 1,300 LED bulbs.

The Electric City Sign is one of Scranton's most identifiable landmarks. This historic sign can be found atop the Scranton Electric Building on Linden Street, directly across from Courthouse Square. Scranton gained its moniker as one of the country's earliest "electrified" cities. Dickson Manufacturing Company was the first in the city to install electric lights in 1880. Scranton had the first successful streetcars powered exclusively by electricity by 1886.

The Electric City Sign was built in the 1930s to commemorate the city's past. It is still one of the country's oldest original electric signs, thanks to careful restoration.

Location: Scranton, PA

Built: in the 1930s