Iowa PBS Presents General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad

Soldier. Spymaster. Builder. Grenville Dodge fought to preserve a nation and connect a continent. General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad, a new documentary from Iowa PBS premieres Monday, June 15 at 8 p.m. It will be rebroadcast Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. and will also be available to stream online with the PBS app.

Grenville M. Dodge was a Civil War general, intelligence pioneer and chief engineer for the Union Pacific. His leadership on and off the battlefield helped preserve a fractured nation and drive the expansion that connected a continent.

“This has been a great opportunity. It's not just an Iowa story. General Dodge becomes almost a vessel through which to understand this era of American history,” said Iowa PBS Producer and Director Tyler Brinegar. “I'm gratified that it's really kind of an American story about how we came to be as a nation. To see his drive, his motivation and bravery in a lot of cases, informed me more about the country I live in.” 

Through a story of war, innovation and ambition, this film examines the forces that bound the United States together during one of its most defining eras.

Iowans who can’t wait for the broadcast are invited to attend one of the free premiere screenings of General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad on Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m. at Iowa PBS in Johnston or Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs. For more information and to register for either event, visit iowapbs.org/events.

Funding for General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad is provided by Unleash Council Bluffs.