The Power of Snoqualmie Falls

See how one man conceived, engineered, and financed the building of the first underground hydroelectric plant in the nation. Charles Baker brought electricity to the masses and forever changed the lives of those living in the Northwest. Original airdate: 12/15/2009
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[@bigwheelsturning]

Worked there as the "B" electrician. The cavity was quite the place, and the equipment was something to see. Spent a lot of time on the old generators keeping the insulation on the wires. Had to sweep the Bat poo off the blueprints up in the loft of the office building. Taking Gen 5 in the cavity apart to check the impeller for wear was fun too. It was not mentioned in the video, but Gens 1-4 had the power come off the rotating shaft, unlike modern generators where the power comes off the stationary part. In the early days, there were big layers of copper cut to shape on site to replace the ones that wore out. Then they found a man in Oregon that could make "brass brushes" that could do the job, and not wear out so fast. Lots of copper dust everywhere. Was also the most boring job I ever had.

[@RobMiami787]

Checking in from the Gunshine State, FL. Great video. Very well done. I had the privilege of enjoying this place several times in the early 1980's. The first visit, w a dear family who emraced me, was at the Snoqualmie Falls Inn for the legendary Snoqualmie Falls Inn breakfast. On a later visit w friends we made the hike down to the bottom and made the trek along the river...I pressed on and got basically to an area behind the falls, or at least as close as you could to the falls, beyond the end of the trail. I was enveloped and bathed in the mist. Simply put, I got wet. More importantly though, unknowingly I was imbued in the spirit of this place. Returning to today, A brief video of the snoqualmie falls came across my twitter feed. It brought back a rush of deep and fond memories. This prompted me to do a quick internet research to track down Randy, a friend, who w other dear friends were able to enjoy this amazing place. We connected and reminisced about our lives, loves and losses in the ensuing 42 years. We shared our memories of the falls. As we closed the conversation, Randy asked-'Were the falls the reason I reached out today?' Simply put yes, the world had prompted me to reach out to very special people in my youth. The above video appropriately highlights The spirituality, history and legacy of the falls, none of which I knew 1982. I was told of this place before I knew I would come to Seattle, Everett and Snohomish. So today, for me, a round trip circle was completed, because of the falls. But it also opened even moreso the connectivity, beauty, the laughter, pain and memories of our lives as mere guests on the blue marble we are all privileged to experience.

[@RobMiami787]

You will note Charles Baker's granddaughter states after her GF's departure he came to Florida, where he drove the 'Golden Spike' of a railroad. I'm researching but believe this was the Florida East Coast Railroad, which is in it's own right an engineering marvel. While I do not believe Mr Baker participated in the construction of the RR, I surmise that being tasked with the honor of driving the the Golden Spike maybe at least shows his achievements and his gravitas were recognized. Anyone is welcome to crowd source this. The FEC RR played an essential role in South Florida's history and development Notably it was wiped out in the 1928 hurricane. Today this rail line, literally in walking distance from where I live now is in use, hosting the first Us privately owned Higher Speed Rail line, The BrightLine. Just this month, there is Higher Speed rail service connection MIami to Tampa, w an extension to Tampa/St Pete in the works. Sadly though South Florida is population is learning the hard way about RR crossings and fast trains. There have been, i've lost count, 50 plus fatalities in a short span, sadly, several instances of people deliberately using the train as a way to end their life. Of course, the train is not the issue, though much of the reporting frames the train as the killer train. In my view though the train is gorgeous and welcome. Please check out my video A new bright line train service is well into planning and development connecting Las Vegas and LA!!

[@dirkfrazier9779]

A different time and a different class of people; now I know how Lake Tapps came about, among other things! Great documentary!

[@markpatterson5250]

I used to live on the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River and visited the falls often. It is an awesomely beautiful piece of nature, obviously. In late summer when the river levels were low, due to lack of rain and snow.......the power company used to block off the river flow completely above the falls, so they had enough water to make electricity. Then it became the "Snoqualmie CLIFF", unlike millions of other cliffs throughout the world. It was always so sad to see the "falls" when they just weren't..............

[@erniecolussy1705]

When I saw the video was posted three years ago I was expecting the update of the both plants that happened between 2010 and 2013 to be covered by the video. That project about double the physical size of plant two. I am not sure about how the power output changed. After watching the video I read the description. This was first air on television in 2009. That is about a year before that project started.

[@savagegamer4twenty653]

Wow! Jus such an amazing video!!

[@tonyf.8858]

Having lived in this area for many years, I still didn't know how much was underground!

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

That was great! Thanks Seattle.

[@Rainbowelevates]

In Hawaii, we say "wai ola" or "ola I ka wai" life water or water is life. We share the same conflict of not having access to water for cultural practices and in some places no water for watering the garden because water is redirected away from its natural flow for money. I feel you and stand with you from afar. Keep causing awareness we can not give up hope ✊🏾

[@-HighTide]

Charles Baker Hip hip hooray Hip hip hooray Hip hip hooray

[@haneycr]

Interesting and well produced

[@grob25]

I lived in Fall City and as an electrical engineer, it was a great honor to visit the falls. What a feat that was.

[@soyounoat]

While viewing this video, I thought about my personal connection with Snoqualmie Falls. I have taken the elevator down into the power station behind the falls, and have hiked down through the forest to the base of the falls and stood atop the huge rocks there. I have floated in a tube from the base of the falls all the way to Fall City. During a massive flood in the early 1990s I stood at the observation deck to witness the water pouring out from the trees on both sides of the falls with ho rocks visible, feeling the ground shake so hard it could be felt in the parking lot. I have stayed in the Salish Lodge in rooms with balconies hanging above the top of the falls, and dined at the best table in the Lodge with it's own private room that has the best view of the falls. The only thing I haven't done there is ride inside a barrel over the falls, and I'm not doing that.

[@WendyAllen-df5yg]

Do I know you?

[@artlewellan2294]

Everyone knows you Souyiynoit and glad to know.

[@dirkfrazier9779]

Come on, everyone would like to see someone do a barrel ride over the falls, you will be famous!

[@dirkfrazier9779]

@@WendyAllen-df5yg Nope!

[@bradlyscotunes9156]

​@WendyAllen-df5yg Did you live in Chelan?

[@CBeard849]

Wonderful video!

[@tjcampbell111]

Phabulous

[@nickefgen9219]

Great video thank you for posting it

[@matthewkyle205]

We in mid 1980's built Twin Falls hydro , 2 -11 ft diameter drop shafts from the pen stock on the so fork Snoqualmie, each shaft dropped 508 feet to Francis turbines from there out the 3/4 mile tail race under the main high way , under twin falls coming up again into the river just below the falls.... this was done by American mine corporation under consolidated hydro , just a hand full of us were on the project from start to operation . at a point I was trained to operate fire up and or shut down of the plant …. at that time I was invited to by operations engineer of sno falls to visit that plant , 7 or so miles down stream ..... our engineers had studied sno falls to better improve the project we built... all told , twin falls hydro plant produces more than sno falls yet can only operate during peak river flow where as sno falls can operate almost year round.... appreciate this history video .... the spawn off of sno falls is / was a larger hydro project upstream , then also about 1 mile further upstream of twin falls is weaks falls hydro which is more a diversionary dam .

[@shawneenhammer4241]

Thanks for the great information ✌️❤️🫵

[@erniecolussy1705]

If I understand correctly this is feed by the dam just on the north side of I-90. It is less than a quarter mile west of the exit 38 west bound on ramp. With effort the dam can be see partially from westbound I-90. Thanks for the information. Was your project done as part of an I-90 improvement project between exit 34 and exit 38? The reason I ask is that below the dam it looks like the river channel is man made to redirect the river to simplify putting the westbound lanes in their current location.

[@levistubbs8949]

The falls are magical !

[@josephpadula2283]

The Abner Doble water turbine company was powered by the father and grandfather of the inventor of the Best Steam car ever build . Jay Leno owns and operates one . If you have an oil burner as heat in Thor house that part of the boiler was Abner’s invention too.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Dudes gladies wow And here we are ... still one of the best places On this world... people will talk ill this place But the last first city in this world. Is where it all begins... love Just love!

[@cloviarice1593]

Such a beautiful place❤

[@billmulkins3217]

Wonder if they will ever replace the original power plant with new turbines?

[@jesseharriott4253]

Bet you the people that stole the power plant were behind the fire.

[@miapdx503]

Romantcizing the end of free electricity. 😞

[@elainedaprano9130]

Truly AMAZING!

[@trollhunter6934]

I remember when the P.I. shut down. Sad say.

[@endicotttrucktractorrwolfe5568]

PART OF WHY WE NOW NEED OUR SNAKE RIVER. PLANTING FISH WORKS WAY BETTER THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS COME INTO LAKE WASHINGTON And NO ONE even Bothers to fish.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Baker won never herd of whats that street

[@pedrodepacas-ic1cb]

It may be a waterfall, but that's no qualmie.

[@TheMrFarkle]

Never mind how the Aztecs, Incas, Egyptians ... built there massive constructs, scientists and engineers learned that. How about recognizing the brute force accomplishments working people completed without modern equipment?

[@hawaiiguykailua6928]

Cool falls but... Baker is merely another cardboard cutout to create another bakers dozen outlandish project/time frame backstory to explain "finding" an underground power plant. This is 10,000% located in a place no engineer, banker, investor, builder, plumber, electrician or mechanical engineer would ever recommend building. "Simply go downstream 20 miles" they'd all say, build it on the level shore, we can get the same amount of power and we won't kill all the men, horses and mules trying to haul millions and millions of pounds of cement, building materials, machinery etc into the dumbest location in history and "bonus" it can get done at 1/50th the cost downstream! This realm is nothing but unraveling truths at this point. If it happened prior to WWI, well, everyone were actual magicians apparently?

[@user-cb2427]

Is this the only original thought you ever created, god forbid your using his electricity

[@Istandby666]

Why people ruin a video with this old outdated ideology is beyond me. We don't need to believe in fairy tales anymore. People need to grow up an accept they're not better than others. I will not watch the rest of this and that thump in the air isn't happening.

[@user-cb2427]

Noticed you have the combination to the gates of Hell in your name, deceitful people need only stand in line to be greeted.with open gate at dark.

[@AquaSteez]

this content is so great! i’ve learned so much and lived here my whole life in kent seattle and enumclaw. these guys really pulled it all off. would love to know why there are so many coal carts in the rivers around here

[@dirkfrazier9779]

Now you do!