AEP Unveils the Power of Its History

CHANTILLY, Va., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Early electrical equipment, light bulbs, electricity meters, safety gear, and photographs are just a few of the artifacts that are on display in the new AEP Centennial Museum. American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has opened the museum in conjunction with its company-wide 100th Anniversary celebration.

The History Factory of Chantilly, Virginia, curated, designed, and built the museum, which depicts the history of AEP, the electric utility industry, and the contribution of AEP to the history of electricity.

"This museum provides some of the wonderful history of where this incredible product called electricity comes from and how it gets to you," said Michael G. Morris, chairman, president, and CEO of American Electric Power. "The history that you see around us- which shows the accomplishments of this company over 100 years-is the history of one of America's most prominent electric utilities. As you look around this museum, it is obvious that these accomplishments are clearly measured by greatness," he added.

The museum features ten exhibits laid out within the 3,500 square foot lobby of AEP's corporate headquarters at 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio. In the design and fabrication of the museum, The History Factory used nine artifact display cases and more than 400 photographs and images acquired from AEP's archival collection and various outside repositories, including the Library of Congress and the National Archives.

Highlights include dramatic murals featuring images of the nation's first pumped-storage hydroelectric dam and AEP's main transmission control room and an 8- foot-tall slide rule that was used by engineers to make decisions that would effectively move electricity across the AEP system before the widespread use of calculators or computers. Also included are an AEP system map, a corporate genealogy that presents a visual salute to AEP's more than 100 predecessor companies, and a 100-year time line featuring significant company milestones along with events from American and international history.

"The History Factory is proud to have had the opportunity to help tell the story of AEP and its contributions to the electric utilities industry and our nation's history," said The History Factory's Founder and CEO, Bruce Weindruch. "The museum represents an exciting opportunity for the people of AEP to be reminded of the company's tremendous achievements and inspire them to succeed in the future."

AEP unveiled the museum to its employees during two celebrations in October of this year. The museum is not open to the public.

In addition to the AEP Centennial Museum, AEP has commissioned a companion traveling exhibit that will visit each of AEP's seven operating companies over the next few months. These exhibits will showcase AEP's corporate history and incorporate customized content for each of the seven companies, including significant milestones from their individual company histories.

Please contact John Wallace of The History Factory at jwallace@historyfactory.com for additional images of the AEP Centennial Museum.

About American Electric Power

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP is the nation's largest generator of electricity, owning more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high-voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, and east Texas). American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006.

About The History Factory

The History Factory-a heritage management firm-helps leading global corporations, organizations, and institutions discover, preserve, and leverage their unique histories to meet today's business challenges. For nearly 30 years, The History Factory has been integrating the very best archival techniques, business processes, information technology, and communications skills into heritage management programs for some of the world's most respected organizations. The History Factory is headquartered just outside of Washington, D.C., in Chantilly, Virginia.

For more information on The History Factory, visit http://www.historyfactory.com/.