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 old house in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. It's now a historic house museum where you can learn about the past. This big, fancy house was built in 1869. It was the home of Grenville M. Dodge, a very important person from American history. He was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He also helped build railroads all across the American West. Because of how important Grenville Dodge was, his house became a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Today, the city of Council Bluffs owns the house, and you can visit it for tours!
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About the Dodge House
The Dodge House is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It's a large, three-story building made of brick. A famous architect named William W. Boyington from Chicago designed it. The house was finished in 1869.
House Design and Features
The house has a special roof called a mansard roof. This type of roof has slopes on all four sides. It also has small windows, called dormers, sticking out of the roof. The main windows are tall and narrow. Some even have fancy stone decorations above them.
Inside, the house is very grand. It has beautiful woodwork made from black walnut. Many original parts of the house are still there. These include bronze hinges with silver details. The house is filled with items that belonged to the Dodge family. This helps visitors imagine what life was like back then.
The Carriage Barn
On the property, there's also an old carriage barn. It was built in 1871. In the past, this barn would have stored carriages and horses. Today, it's used as a home for the museum's caretaker.
Who Was Grenville M. Dodge?
Grenville M. Dodge (1831-1916) was a truly amazing person. He was a soldier, an engineer, and a leader. He played a huge role in shaping the American West.
Dodge's Early Career and the Civil War
From a young age, Grenville Dodge was interested in building railroads. He was very skilled at engineering. During the American Civil War, he used his talents to help the Union Army. He was especially good at quickly rebuilding bridges that had been destroyed. This skill was vital for moving troops and supplies.
Building the Transcontinental Railroad
After the Civil War, Dodge became the chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. This was a massive job! He led the team that built the first first transcontinental railroad. This railroad connected the eastern and western parts of the United States. It was a huge achievement, completed in 1869. This made travel and trade across the country much faster and easier.
Dodge's Other Roles
Besides his engineering work, Dodge also managed many railroad projects. He was also active in politics. He even served in the United States Congress. He was a true leader in many different fields.
The House as a Museum
The Dodge family lived in this house until 1950. After that, it was changed into apartments for a while. But in 1963, the city of Council Bluffs bought the house. They wanted to turn it into a museum.
The city worked hard to restore the house. They removed the changes made for the apartments. They brought it back to how it looked when Grenville Dodge lived there. Today, the Grenville M. Dodge House is a wonderful place to visit. It helps us remember an important part of American history. You can also visit the Beresheim House next door, which is also part of the museum.
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