Plaza Substation
historic place
Here in Los Angeles County stands the Plaza Substation, a historic place. This brick power-transforming plant was built by the Los Angeles Railway Company between 1903 and 1906. It converted alternating current to direct current, providing power for the city's yellow trolley cars. The Plaza Substation was the largest and most significant of the fourteen substations in the city. It supplied about 40% of the power for the Los Angeles Railway system. The electric streetcar system ceased operating in 1963, and the substation's machinery was removed. After facing demolition threats in the 1970s, the Plaza Substation was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The historical marker here was erected by El Pueblo de Los Angeles. This site is important for understanding the history of transportation in Los Angeles.