Grenville M. Dodge House facts for kids
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Grenville M. Dodge House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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General Dodge's house in Council Bluffs, Iowa
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| Location | 605 S. 3rd St. Council Bluffs, Iowa |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (7,300 m2) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | W.W. Boyington |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | Willow-Bluff-3rd Street Historic District (ID05001019) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000338 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Grenville M. Dodge House is a special historic house museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. This amazing house was built in 1869. It was the home of Grenville M. Dodge (1831-1916). He was an important person in American history.
Dodge was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was also a politician and played a huge part in building railroads across the Western United States. The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961 because of its connection to Grenville Dodge. Today, the city of Council Bluffs owns the house. You can visit it and take tours to learn more about its history.
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About the Dodge House
The Dodge House is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is a very large building made of brick. It has three stories, which means it has three main floors. The house was designed by an architect named William W. Boyington from Chicago. It was built in 1869. Back then, it cost $35,000 to build, which was a lot of money!
What the House Looks Like
The house has a special roof called a mansard roof. This type of roof has slopes on all four sides. It also has fancy decorations under the roof. Many of the windows are tall and narrow. They have rounded tops and some have decorative stone frames.
Inside the House
When you go inside, you will see beautiful woodwork. It is made from a dark wood called black walnut. Many of the original items are still there. This includes bronze door hinges with silver parts. The house is decorated with items that belonged to the Dodge family. There is also an old carriage barn built in 1871 on the property. This barn now has a home for a caretaker.
Who Was Grenville Dodge?
Grenville Dodge was interested in building railroads from a young age. He was very good at engineering. Engineering is about designing and building things like bridges and roads.
Dodge and the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Dodge showed off his amazing skills. He was able to quickly replace bridges that had been destroyed. This was very important for the Union Army.
Building the Transcontinental Railroad
After the war, Grenville Dodge became the chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. He led the team that built the first transcontinental railroad. This was a huge project! It connected the eastern and western parts of the United States by train. This railroad was finished in 1869, the same year his house was built.
Dodge's Other Roles
Besides being an engineer, Dodge also managed many railroad projects. He was also active in politics. He even served in the United States Congress. This means he helped make laws for the country.
The Dodge House Today
The Dodge family owned the house until 1950. After that, it was changed into apartments. But in 1963, the city bought the house. They wanted to turn it into a museum. They worked hard to make it look like it did when Grenville Dodge lived there. Now, it is a place where people can learn about his life and the history of railroads.
