Smithsonian Affiliations

Black and white photograph of a woman sitting behind a desk. She has short, wavy hair and wears glasses. The desk is covered in rectangular carpet samples and blueprints are spread across the desk. A black telephone rests on the desk amid the supplies.

How One of the First Female Civil Engineers Transformed Railroad Passenger Service

Hailed as the “Lady Engineer” who “took the pain out of the train,” Olive Wetzel Dennis made her lasting mark on passenger service and paved the path for future female civil engineers.

A black-and-white photograph of an African American male porter holding a suitcase while a white woman steps up into a rail car.

The Railroad Workers Behind the Civil Rights Movement

Pullman porters did more than carry bags, they paved the way for higher education opportunities, the professional working class and the fight for equal rights.

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