Washington Gas Works During the 1840s, tired of the smell and dangers of candles and oil lamps, residents of Washington, DC regularly petitioned Congress to establish a gas company to light the city. In 1848, Congress agreed, first experimenting with lighting the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/59">Capitol dome</a> using gas. The Washington Gas Light Company plant opened on the Mall in 1852 where the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/49">National Museum of the American Indian</a> stands today; the site was a mixture of homes and businesses. Gas from this works illuminated Pennsylvania Avenue streetlamps and the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/66">White House</a>, as well as local homes and businesses. The gas works remained for over 50 years. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a title="Washington Gas Works" href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=LOT%2013070&amp;fi=number&amp;op=PHRASE&amp;va=exact&amp;co!=coll&amp;sg=true&amp;st=gallery">View original</a>. 1852 (opened) <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1830-1859">1830-1859</a>