"Since the earliest days of the republic, great engineering projects have shaped American landscapes and expressed American dreams. The ambition to build lies as close to the nation's heart as the belief in liberty. We live in a built civilization, connected to one another in an enormous web of technology. Yet we have all too often overlooked the role of engineers and builders in American history. With photographs and epic narrative sweep, Great Projects at last gives their story the prominence it deserves.". "Each of the eight projects featured in this narrative was a milestone in its own right: the flood-control works of the lower Mississippi, Hoover Dam, Edison's lighting system, the spread of electricity across the nation, the great Croton Aqueduct, the bridges of New York City, Boston's revamped street system, known as the Big Dig, and the ever-evolving communications network called the Internet. Each project arose from a heroic vision. Each encountered obstacles. Each reveals a tale of genius and perseverance."--BOOK JACKET.