Completion of transcontinental railroad to be celebrated at the Golden Spike National Historic Site

BOX ELDER COUNTY — The Golden Spike National Historic Site will present two special events next week in recognition of the Golden Spike's 141st anniversary.

The "Driving of the Last Spike" will be commemorated on Monday, May 10, with a full day of events. On May 10, 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed at the site.

The visitors center opens at 9 a.m. There will be music and dance prior to the traditional program, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Kyle Wyatt, historian at the California Railroad Museum.

In a separate event, Dennis Lewin, a retired Union Pacific railroad telegrapher, will be presenting a program on the use and history of the telegraph on Saturday, May 15.

Lewin was hired in 1954 as a Morse Code telegrapher by the Union Pacific railroad.

He will focus on the application of the telegraph as it was used by the railroad. The program will be held at the visitors center interpretive shelter, with the first demonstration at 10 a.m. and others continuing throughout the day until 3 p.m.

Golden Spike National Historic Site is located 32 miles west of Brigham City via Highways 13 and 83.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/gosp/ or call 435-471-2209, ext 29.