Tour the Projects: See the building of: The Hoover Dam, Mississippi Levees, The First Utility, Bridges of NYC, Boston's Big Dig
About the Series: Get information about the Great Projects programs on PBS
Interviews: Learn how America's engineering feats were accomplished
Test Your Knowledge: Take the Great Projects quiz
Student Resources: Access the best engineering schools, scholarship info, and bibliographies


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Tour the ProjectsElectric Nation


The First Power Station

The First Power Station

Edison hired about seventy former telegraph "wire runners" to lay more than 80,000 feet of conductors underground. They worked from the spring of 1881 to the summer of 1882. Meanwhile, Edison's team constructed the first central power station.

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Great Projects: The Building of America



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A Tale of Two Rivers

How engineers contained and controlled the Colorado and Mississippi rivers.

Electric Nation

Thomas Edison lights up New York City; Sam Insull brings power to Chicago; and TVA electrifies rural America

Bridging New York

Constructing the George Washington Bridge

The Big Dig

Putting a major highway under Boston
Produced By Great Projects home – tour the projects – about the series – interviews – test your knowledge – student resources

© 2002 Great Projects Film Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Credits: Left: Consolidated Edison of NY, Right: Edison National Historic Site