Located 8 miles from Silverton, Colorado, the Gold King property is in the heart of a longstanding gold-producing area. It was a very successful mine unlike some in Colorado. But it also linked with another important development, the Ames Hydroelectric Plant.
In 1890-91 L.L. Nunn built the world's first single-phase AC power transmission system at Ames in order to power the nearby Gold King Mine's stamp mill. The plant operated under a head of 320 feet and consisted of a Pelton water wheel connected to a 3000 volt, 133 cycle Westinghouse AC generator. The current was then directly transmitted 2.6 miles to the motor powering the stamp mill.
Ref. HAER