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 ProjectsA Tale of Two Rivers


Trust But Verify

Trust But Verify

Not a single levee on the lower Mississippi failed in the 1937 flood, nor has any failed since. Yet engineers must continually monitor the Mississippi and the network of levees and spillways that have been built and reinforced throughout the 20th century. In 1973, the Old River spillway barely escaped collapse after major storms raised the Missouri and the Tennessee to towering levels.

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Check Stations and Showtimes to see when "A Tale of Two Rivers" is playing on your local PBS station.
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 Credit: Great Projects Film Co., Inc.