The Perry nuclear plant site in 1937

The Lake Erie shore at Perry from the air in 1937, 1973 and today. In 1937 it was farms and woods; in 1973 it was still farmland. Construction of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant began in 1974, and it went into commercial operation in 1987. It was designed for two reactors, but the second was never finished and was formally canceled in 1994, so only one of its two 516-foot cooling towers is in use.

Can you see the towers from your house? From how far away?

Sources:
- Perry Nuclear Generating Station: Wikipedia (construction from October 1974; commercial operation November 1987; unit 2 suspended 1985, canceled 1994)
- Cooling towers: Center for Land Use Interpretation, Land Use Database (two 516-ft towers, one functional)
- 1937: Lake County, Ohio GIS Department
- 1973: Lake County, Ohio GIS Department
- 2025: Ohio Statewide Imagery Program (OGRIP)