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American Experience and the Engineering Map of America

Department News, Events
Star on top of the San Jacinto Monument

Pictured here is the 220 ton star atop the San Jacinto Monument (from the George Fuermann “Texas and Houston” Collection and our Digital Library)

University of Houston Special Collections and dozens of other academic institutions have partnered with PBS and American Experience to create a crowd-sourced, interactive map of some of the most significant engineering feats in the history of the United States–the Engineering Map of America.

Part of the Mapping History project, the Engineering Map of America will explore the marriage of science and technology that allowed the greatest engineering marvels to come to fruition.  Similar to their previous Abolitionist Map of America, Mapping History is developing this resource through the contributions of the community at large.  Complete with an app for your iPhone, this Mapping History endeavor will officially launch alongside the premiere of The Rise and Fall of Penn Station on February 18, 2014.  However, in hopes of soliciting resource material prior to the premiere, American Experience is sponsoring a contest.  The individual and institution with the most contributions to the map will win an American Experience DVD (see complete rules and details) as well as the envy of the larger engineering community.

American Experience initially approached our office about partnering on this project after discovering materials in our Digital Library.  Since then, the University of Houston Special Collections has contributed resources on the Astrodome, the San Jacinto Monument, the Houston Ship Channel Turning Basin, as well as the Galveston Seawall.

Join in on the fun and be sure that your personal favorite engineering challenges and innovations are highlighted by adding your own resources to the interactive map.

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