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- General Electric was an icon of American innovation and manufacturing for most of its history.
- The company reached its peak in 2000, but had a rocky journey entering the 21st century.
- In April, GE finished splitting its remaining divisions into three stand-alone, publicly traded companies.
Over the course of the 20th century, General Electric grew into a powerhouse — literally — of American industry.
Founded by Thomas Edison, the company expanded into everything from appliances to broadcasting, jet engines to computing. It became a household name for millions of consumers.