Golden Spike National Historical Park Utah

America's railway system was well-established in the eastern part of the country by the time of the Civil War; however, train travel had yet to reach beyond the Missouri River. The idea of a railroad spanning from east to west, linking the entire continent, was believed by many to be the key to expanding settlements in the western part of the country and increasing trade.

Engineer Theodore Judah, backed by Sacramento merchants, founded the Central Pacific Railroad and began building the railroad east from Sacramento in 1863, with the Union Pacific starting construction later the same year after both secured the backing of Congress and necessary loan subsidies in 1862. However, construction was slow until after the end of the Civil War as the railroad faced supply and labor challenges.

Work was difficult and dangerous as workers used picks, shovels, black powder, carts, and one-horse scrapers to clear and grade the land in preparation for laying the track. The Central Pacific had it especially hard, forced to blast tunnels through the rock of the Sierra mountains. Chinese immigrants made up the majority of the Central Pacific workforce, while the Union Pacific was a mix of Irish, German, Italian, American Indians, ex-slaves, and war veterans.

By the middle of 1868, the Central Pacific had progressed across the rough terrain of the Sierra, laying 200 miles of track total, with the Union Pacific having laid 700 miles over the more forgiving land of the plains. Competition to expand quickly was fierce, and both sides rushed to complete as many miles as possible as fast as they could. The emphasis on speed and progress caused the two railroads to pass each other, laying parallel tracks for over 200 miles.

Meeting of the Two Railroads at Promontory Point

Congress intervened to set the meeting of the two tracks at the Promontory Summit in Utah. The two sides met with their locomotives on May 10, 1869, leaving one rail gap between them to officially connect the tracks. First, the achievement was commemorated with a golden spike to symbolize the successful joining of the eastern and western parts of the country with the first transcontinental railroad, leading to westward expansion and economic growth. Next, a final iron spike connected the two railroads in 1,776 miles of track, 690 laid by the Central Pacific and 1,086 by the Union Pacific.

Activities to Enjoy at Golden Spike National Historical Park

Today, the location of the ceremonial golden spike at Promontory Point is protected by the National Park Service. You can visit Golden Spike National Historical Park to check out the visitor center for information services and exhibits, a bookstore, a photo gallery, and a welcome movie. Outdoor exhibits, engine house tours, and viewing of the boiler wash are also available.

The original railroad bed currently has about 1.7 miles of new track at the site where the rails came together. Replicas of the Jupiter and No. 119 steam locomotives operate from early May to early October to reenact the meeting of the trains. Visitors can also drive the 2-mile East Auto Tour and 7-mile West Auto Tour during the summer or hike the 1.5-mile Big Fill Loop Trail to walk the original Central Pacific and Union Pacific grades and view the stunning scenery. Each year, the Golden Spike National Historical Park hosts a Commemorative Ceremony on May 10th, the Railroaders Festival at the end of summer, and the Winter Steamfest at the end of December.

Things to See and Do Nearby

Extend your visit with a stop at some of the nearby attractions, such as:

• The Spiral Jetty, an earthwork piece of black basalt rocks created by Robert Smithson in 1970
• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
• Devil's Playground (terrain filled with irregular rock shapes)
• Antelope Island wildlife viewing