Travel Town StoryWalk: Railroad Engineer Olive Dennis

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March 19 thru April 29 Venture to Travel Town to explore Los Angeles' railroad history and read about one of the first female railroad engineers, Olive Dennis.

 Olive Dennis changed the way people travel. She was a civil engineer who became the first female engineer at Baltimore & Ohio Railroads. Travel Town StoryWalk: Railroad Engineer Olive Dennis | Los Angeles Public Library (lapl.org)

Read about her barrier-breaking achievements in the book titled Railroad Engineer Olive Dennis, and the ingenious ideas she had that we still enjoy today!

[Available viewing hours coincide with Travel Town hours.]

For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.

More about Olive Dennis who introduced improvements to train travel, including 

  • reclining seats
  • stain-resistant upholstery
  • ceiling lights in passenger cars with dimming capabilities 
  • window vents  to bring in fresh air in but kept dust outside
  • expanded dressing rooms for women (with paper towels and liquid soap)
  • air-conditioning aboard the trains

Women in Transportation History: Olive Dennis, US Railroad Civil Engineer – Transportation History

During World War II, she was a consultant for the federal Office of Defense Transportation. "She graduated from Western High School and enrolled at Goucher College from where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1908. She then went on to earn her master's degree in mathematics and astronomy from Columbia University." Olive Dennis Biography - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline (thefamouspeople.com)

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