On May 10, 1869, the entire country celebrated when the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Point, Utah. This year marks the sesquicentennial, and there’s a big celebration planned that you won’t want to miss.

The goal was to have a continuous rail line from the east coast to the west, and on May 10, 1869, 1,912 miles of rail line from Council Bluffs, Iowa to the Sacramento, California was connected in Promontory, Utah. The project was completed in just over six years.
Andrew J. Russell - Yale University Libraries, Public Domain
Crews from three railroads got started back in 1863, and raced to meet at Promontory.
Matthew Montgomery/flickr
Western Pacific Railroad crews were tasked with building lines from San Francisco to Sacramento, while Central Pacific crews started the arduous task of laying rail line from Sacramento over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In Council Bluffs, Iowa on January 8, 1863, Union Pacific crews started on their 1,087 miles of rail line.
On May 10, 1869 the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads finally met in the middle. Leland Stanford drove a ceremonial golden spike into the last railroad tie, and telegraphs messages were sent to the east and west coasts that simply read, "Done."
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
Most people don't know that on that day in 1869, the rail line didn't actually reach the west coast. The Western Pacific Railroad had suffered financial issues, and its progress had halted back in 1866. After the ceremony at Promontory Point, the Central Pacific purchased the Western Pacific and resumed building activity from Sacramento west to Oakland. That line was completed in November of 1869.
The site of the golden spike became a national historic site in 1957, and around 49,000 people visit every year.
danauxter2/Tripadvisor
The Golden Spike National Historic Site is located at Promontory Point, in Box Elder County. The closest town is Corinne, about 23 miles away.

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May 10, 2019 marks 150 years since the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, and the national park has big plans to celebrate.
scottie552/Tripadvisor
On May 10th, 11th, and 12th, the park will host a celebration including music, train demonstrations, storytelling, and reenactments of the driving of the golden spike.
jshyun/flickr
Visitors will be able to see the replicas of Engine #119...
Georg S/Tripadvisor
...as well as the Jupiter. These steam engines are replicas of the ones that met on the newly-completed rail line back in 1869.
Steve C/Tripadvisor
To attend the celebration, you'll need a parking pass, and passes for May 10th are already sold out. Purchase a pass for the celebrations on the 11th and 12th soon so that you won't miss this once-in-a-lifetime event.
National Park Service
Click here for tickets.

See the full celebration calendar and get your tickets on the Golden Spike National Historical Park’s website. Do you plan to attend the 150-year celebration of the Golden Spike? Tag the friends and family you want to join you!

 

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