Grenville Dodge was a very important person serving as a Union army officer on the frontier and during the Civil War, a US Congressman, businessman, railroad executive who helped build the Transcontinental railroad. He was also council to presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant.
In 1869 Dodge built his Victorian home designed by architect William Boyington, a Chicago architect for a cost of $35,000. The 14 room 3 story mansion stands high on a ridge overlooking the Missouri valley. The home was advanced for its time having indoor plumbing, fixtures for gas and electric, heating and air conditioning.
Council Bluffs has one of only three Squirrel Cage Jails left in the US. Built in 1885 and was used until 1969. It was one of eighteen revolving(squirrel cage, human rotary) jails built and the only 3 level one built.
Built at the cost of $30,000 with 3 floors of revolving pie shaped cells inside a cage. The front of the building had offices for the jailer, kitchen, trustees cells and quarters for women. The jail also had a cell similar in size as a gym locker for solitary confinement. In some cases prisoners were in the confined space for 5-10 days. The overall jails design was made for maximum security and minimal contact between the jailers and prisoners.
City park with nice water features
Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge is a S shaped cable stay bridge which spans 3000 feet about 60 feet above the Missouri river connecting Nebraska and Iowa. The bridge has two towers that are 200 feet tall to support the cables with a striking modern design.
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