Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
General Grenville Dodge’s hat—pierced by a bullet—became one of the Civil War’s most unexpectedly famous accessories.
The origins of the hat and how it came to be in Iowa is a little bit of a mystery. Acquisition records indicate that the hat was given to the State Historical Society by General Dodge himself before his death in 1916.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
General Grenville Dodge’s hat—pierced by a bullet—became one of the Civil War’s most unexpectedly famous accessories.
The origins of the hat and how it came to be in Iowa is a little bit of a mystery. Acquisition records indicate that the hat was given to the State Historical Society by General Dodge himself before his death in 1916.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
