Museum Houses 19th Century Gas Lamp

Gas and Electric Lights Come to the City of San Bernardino 

In 1881 the National Gas Company of New York, secured a franchise and put in an extensive [gas] plant.

November 2nd, 1881, the city [of San Bernardino] was first lighted by gas and the Times of that date declares: "Gas under the new dispensation was a brilliant success as was abundantly made manifest last evening."

[In 1891] the city was first lighted by electricity, the San Antonio Electric Co. putting in from 500 to 800 incandescent lights.

(Ingersoll's Century Annuals of San Bernardino County, 1769-1904, pp. 169 & 383)