General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad | Documentary Trailer
Preview | 1m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Civil War general, railroad visionary, and one of Iowa’s most influential figures, get a first look!
A new Iowa PBS documentary on the extraordinary life of General Grenville M. Dodge is coming this summer in 2026. Civil War general, railroad visionary, and one of Iowa’s most influential figures, get a first look at the man who helped shape a nation and transform the American west. Watch the trailer now and stay tuned for the full documentary coming June 2026 on Iowa PBS.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad is a local public television program presented by Iowa PBS
General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad | Documentary Trailer
Preview | 1m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
A new Iowa PBS documentary on the extraordinary life of General Grenville M. Dodge is coming this summer in 2026. Civil War general, railroad visionary, and one of Iowa’s most influential figures, get a first look at the man who helped shape a nation and transform the American west. Watch the trailer now and stay tuned for the full documentary coming June 2026 on Iowa PBS.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad
General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, LG TV, and Vizio.
The thought of having a connection to the west was something that George Washington dreamed about.
And I think for Dodge, the future is out there in the West and the possibilities are endless.
He came out and tried to build a railroad.
He's hoping to have a railroad that's going to be funded by this government and the people of the union.
And it was I think that was something worth fighting for.
And that's why he said, you know, let rivers run with blood, but the union must not be dissolved.
If it goes away, everything that's good about being an American goes away.
And for Dodge to realize his dream of building a transcontinental railroad, the Union was what needed to be saved.
He's thinking about something that people have been thinking about a long time by that time.
What's the best way to get there?
Now PlayingGeneral Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad | Documentary Trailer
Video has Closed Captions
Civil War general, railroad visionary, and one of Iowa’s most influential figures, get a first look! (1m 46s)
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General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad is a local public television program presented by Iowa PBS