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.

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