| The need to add lighting at night and in dark | | | | Street lighting created safer environments |
| places has been with us throughout human | | | | outdoors at night. Crime rates reduced as it |
| history. In fact, the first thing God created was | | | | became safer to travel after dark. People could |
| light. How we have solved this problem has | | | | work longer hours or complete more tasks, |
| changed throughout history. One solution that has | | | | increasing efficiency at work and in the home. |
| provided light for centuries is the use of gas | | | | Reading and studying became easier at night, |
| lanterns or gas lights. This method has become a | | | | improving literacy. These factors helped contribute |
| trend in outdoor lighting and is becoming more | | | | to the second Industrial Revolution as knowledge |
| popular once again. | | | | and efficiency increased. |
| Different fuels throughout history have been used | | | | Public street lighting began in Pall Mall, London in |
| to create light. Some of these include olive oil, | | | | 1807. On December 31, 1813, the Westminster |
| beeswax, sesame oil, whale oil, and fish oil. In | | | | Bridge was illuminated by gas light. Baltimore, MA |
| 1726, Dr. Stephen Hales was the first person to | | | | was the first city to install streetlights in America. |
| document rendering a flammable fuel from distilling | | | | With the advent of electric lighting, the gas street |
| coal. His discovery was before its time, as no | | | | lights and illumination have all but become a thing |
| practical use occurred until the 1790's. William | | | | of the past. However, the look and ambiance of |
| Murdoch worked for the Soho Foundrey in | | | | gas lighting is making a strong resurgence in |
| Birmingham, England. In 1798, he began lighting the | | | | exterior lighting. |
| foundry building using coal gas. Later, in 1802, he lit | | | | With updated construction, design, and practicality, |
| the outside of the building, much to the surprise | | | | gas lighting is becoming desirable once again. |
| of the public. As people saw the advantages of | | | | Copper being one of the most popular materials, it |
| outdoor lighting, it gained in popularity. | | | | is possible to find gas lighting in a variety of styles |
| Coal gas was the original fuel for gas lighting | | | | and construction for your exterior or interior. |
| through the 19th century, and into the beginning | | | | Understanding the history of gas lighting adds to |
| of the 20th century. In the late 19th century, | | | | the appeal of bringing it back into your home or |
| natural gas began replacing coal gas, first in | | | | garden. |
| America, but spreading across the globe. | | | | |