The 1890s were a pivotal decade of invention. In 1895, transmitting electricity from the Folsom Power House to Sacramento was a major national achievement because of its size and purpose. The hydroelectric power was generated as three-phase alternating current, and the Folsom plant was the first powerhouse in the United States to send this type of current over long-distance wires, about 22 miles. Sacramento celebrated with a Grand Electrical Carnival that lit the night with electric lights. This electrified urban city opened the door to the 20th century, forever changing Sacramento and urban centers around the world, and the later arrival of the automobile would have an almost equal impact on Sacramento and the rest of the world.