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Golden Spike National Historic Site
Westerners tend to forget that most of the conveniences enjoyed by modern civilization would be impossible without a transcontinental railroad. They also tend to forget about the sweat, grit and meager hand tools used to build the $165 million line.
Two trains from the east and west take turns driving over the final spike as part of 125th anniversary celebration at Golden Spike National Historic Site.
Ravell Call, Deseret News |
But everyday life stands as a testament to the importance of the day more than 130 years ago when officials from the Central Pacific Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad hammered in four spikes near Promontory, Utah, that connected the East and West via a transcontinental rail line.
From that day, May 10, 1869, the United States began to shrink in a big way. Almost immediately, Easterners started coming west as tourists, industry and settlers followed. The dangers and hardships faced by pioneers disappeared, and the West began to prosper as never before.
Six days before the lines were to meet, San Francisco contractor David Hewes learned no one had planned anything special for the historic event. So he spent $400 of his own gold to cast a golden spike — a move that prompted others to action.
Hewes' gold spike and another solid gold spike, with the names of railroad officials engraved on it, were driven in to connect the two lines. Also used on that ceremonious day were a silver spike, provided by Nevada, and a spike made of iron, silver and gold, provided by Arizona.
The place where this historical event took place is a little, out-of-the-way spot on northern Utah's landscape called the Golden Spike National Historic Site. The landmark has a visitors center with slide programs, films and a museum to help tourists learn about that historic day.
Golden Spike National Historic Site is located about 32 miles west of Brigham City, about 50 miles north of Salt Lake City, on U-13 and U-83. For more information call 435-471-2209.
More information is available at www.nps.gov/gosp/.
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