Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age Episode 7 - "Irresistible Change"
As depicted in George's dream of building a new railroad station continues and, when Union Central Station is completed, it will be illuminated by electricity from Thomas Edison's company, Consolidated Edison.
In The Gilded Age's premiere, one of the first instances of real-life history mentioned was the death of Jesse James, which happened on April 3, 1882. This helped establish the timeframe of Julian Fellowes' period drama, which is set 30 years before the start of T. Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones), the most prominent Black newspaperman in America, as characters in the series. The Gilded Age has even shown the Statue of Liberty's hand, which was on display in Madison Park for years, while Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) shops at Bloomingdale's, the world-famous department store that rose to prominence during the Gilded Age.
Thomas Edison lighting up the New York Times building in Park Row happened as it was depicted in The Gilded Age episode 7, although George and Bertha Russell, Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), Thomas Raikes (Thomas Cocquerel), and Aurora Fane (Kelli O'Hara), weren't in attendance since they are fictional characters. But in real life, Edison flipped the switch at Pearl Street Station, the first central power station in the world, on September 4, 1882. At 3:00 pm, New York City was illuminated by electrical light for the first time and the New York Times building was among the first of the city's towers to be lit by Edison's electricity. However, in The Gilded Age episode 7, the event was shown to have happened later in the evening of September 4, in order to give it a more dramatic effect.
Thomas Edison "mastering electricity" was one of the greatest and most important technological achievements of the era. But not everyone looked forward to the irresistible change and The Gilded Age properly has several characters, including the Russells, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) pointing out how electricity will radically change everyone's lives. While Bertha Russell is eager to have her 5th Avenue and 61st Street palace powered by electricity, Aunt Agnes, who still shuns her butler, Bannister (Simon Jones), remains skeptical of progress and some of Bertha's servants dreaded the potential of electricity leading to the end of their jobs.
Going forward, The Gilded Age will reflect the sweeping changes widespread electricity will have in New York City's homes, businesses, and throughout society. From a production standpoint, the series will begin noticeably changing the lighting fixtures in the show's lavish sets to use electricity, and soon, electric-powered items and appliances will begin appearing. The Gilded Age has already been renewed for another season by HBO and, while the series remains set in 1882 for now, there could be a time jump in The Gilded Age season 2 that may lead to visible changes ushered in by Thomas Edison lighting up New York City.
The Gilded Age airs Mondays @ 9pm on HBO and streams on HBO Max.