September 9, 1895 marked another milestone for Sacramento when the powerhouse at Folsom sent 3000 crackling kilowatts 22 miles to the Capital City, the world's first long-distance transmission of power. Ever since a successful energy relay in July of that year, Sacramento prepared for the "Electric Carnival", a parade of lighted floats around the city accompanied by music and an estimated 25,000 electric lamps of all colors. The Capitol Dome was lit as the parade came in sight of it and residents stared in wonder as Sacramento entered the 20th Century almost five years early. This close-up look at the detail on the commemorative handout shows an electric sign ushering in the "New" Sacramento and highlights one of the floats, many of them designed and built at the Southern Pacific shops , mounted on flatcars and powered by streetcars using the overhead trolley wires.
