Transcontinental railroad fact sheet prior to the opening of the transcontinental railroad, it took four to six months to travel 2000 miles from the missouri river to california by wagon. The transcontinental railroad smithsonian libraries. This content contains ed material that requires a free newseum ed account. The transcontinental railroad was the first continuous railroad line across the united states and opened for through traffic on may 10, 1869 when central pacific railroad president leland stanford ceremonially drove the gold last spike at promontory summit. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869 get even more great free content. January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california. Westward expansion only 1 left in stock order soon. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. On may 10, 1869, the rails were finally joined in promontory at the golden spike ceremony. Central pacific lines that met at promontory summit, utah, in 1869, the book. Building of the transcontinental railroad, circa 1869. The decline of confederate railroads in the civil war pdf.
The first transcontinental railroad probably was the railroad that was built across the isthmus of panama. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869 kindle edition by ambrose, stephen e download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Back in 1869, the central pacific and union pacific railroad worked tirelessly under brutal conditions to drive the last spike, the golden spike, at promontory summit, utah territory, to complete the transcontinental railroad. Year 4 timeline modern history the treaty of versailles june 28, 1919 assassination of. It really was the diligence and teamwork of the chinese that helped finish the railroad. The first transcontinental railroad primary source documents document 1. The two lines were joined together in utah on may 10, 1869, hence creating the first transcontinental railroad in. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u.
The transcontinental railroad 1869 in 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. For all the adversity they suffered, the union pacific and central pacific workers were able to finish the railroad laying nearly 2,000 miles of trackby 1869, ahead of schedule and under budget. Central pacific lines that met at promontory summit, utah, in 1869, the book expands the narrative by considering all of the transcontinental routes in the united states and examining their. The reader gets an intimate feel for the input of the big four men who were instrumental in bringing it to fruition, as well as detailed information on the struggles of men like theodore judah, who worked passionately on this project before the big four took over. One hundred and fifty years of transcontinental railroading profiles the history and heritage of this historic event. The transcontinental railroad completed 150 years agounited a nation torn apart by the civil war. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869 paperback november 6, 2001. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. May 6, 1869 the special train carrying union pacific dignitaries including durant and dillon bound for the ceremony at promontory point arrives at piedmont, wyoming from the east, and is detained by an armed mob of several hundred railroad workmen demanding overdue wages. Transcontinental railroad presented in a comic book format, this mini book will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country.
The iron horse linked california with the rest of the nation and ushered in an era of economic consolidation. This exhibition explores the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and its impact on american westward expansion. The first transcontinental railroad, originally called the pacific railroad, was a railroad built in the united states between 1863 and 1869 that connected the western part of america with its eastern part. Connecting the united states from east to west, the transcontinental railroad was completed in strasburg formerly comanche, colorado on august 15, 1870. Central pacific required another month but by april 17th had finished to monument point, more than 700 miles east of sacramento and just 20 miles west of promontory summit. About the history of the united states in 1869, heinz company starts, the transcontinental railroad is completed, black friday on wall street. The story goes that on may 10, 1869, the central pacific railroads. That track the work of two railroad companies competing to lay the most miles from opposite directions came together with the famous golden spike at promontory summit in utah on may 10, 1869. The rails of the first transcontinental railroad were joined on may 10, 1869, with the ceremonial driving of the last spike at promontory summit, utah, after track was laid over a 2,826 km 1,756 mi gap between sacramento and omaha, nebraskacouncil bluffs, iowa in six years by the union pacific railroad and central pacific railroad. Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization for women, is founded at iowa wesleyan college in mount pleasant, iowa. Nothing like it in the world gives the account of an unprecedented feat of engineering, vision, and courage. January 1 sigma nu, the first antihazing honorsocial fraternity, is founded, at virginia military institute. On may 10, 1869, the final spike in north americas first transcontinental railroad was driven home at promontory summit, utah.
Laying track was tough work performed at an exhausting pace. Search the history of over 418 billion web pages on the internet. The first transcontinental railroad november 6, 1869. The transcontinental railroad was completed in six years. The transcontinental railroad completed in 1869 with the driving of the famous golden spike at promontory summit, utah, the transcontinental railroad revolutionized transportation across the united states and fundamentally changed the american west, sparking social, economic, environmental, and political change. Without the chinese labor, the transcontinental railroad would have taken several years more. Year 4 timeline modern history thomas alva edison 1879 alexander graham bell 1876.
The first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. Im sorry to disagree so strongly but the is nothing like it in the world is not an accurate book. History of the transcontinental railroad spike 150. History of rail transportation in the united states wikipedia. The iron road this is the earlier and lesser of two pbs american experience films on the transcontinental railroad. It was 1865, and the central pacific railroad company had a problem. In spite of this fact, the golden spike ceremony celebrating the railroad s completion took place months earlier in a different location. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read nothing like it in the world. The impact of the railroad california state university. The filth of progress by ryan dearinger paperback university of. Transcontinental railroad completed, unifying united states history. In fact, 1869 is considered to be a benchmark year in utah history. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. Iron rails, iron men, and the race to link the nation.
Completing the transcontinental railroad, 1869 eyewitness to history. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad the investors who risked their businesses and money. In utah, a substantial percentage of the first transcontinental railroad grade is abandoned. The two lines met at promontory summit, utah, and on may 10, 1869, a golden spike joined the two railways, thus completing the first transcontinental railroad. Yet the company could only keep about 800 men on the job.
Btw, the first truly transcontinental railroad in north america was the canadian pacific or at least almost. Smith, ivan 1998, significant dates in nova scotias railway history 1850 1899. Americas first steam locomotive made its debut in 1830. On this day in 1869, the presidents of the union pacific and central pacific railroads meet in promontory, utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail. The final spike, made of gold, was tapped in, and engines driven from east and west met on the tracks. The filth of progress explores the untold side of a wellknown american story.
The promontory branch of transcontinental railroad 1869. Download pdf the building of the transcontinental railroad. The completion of the transcontinental railroad business. Reproduced with permission from the peoples almanac series of books. From the chamber of commerce of newyork to the chamber of commerce of san francisco. Among his new york times bestsellers are nothing like it in the. This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in 1869. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading nothing like it in the world.
Mar 01, 2019 celebrating the sesquicentennial anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the united states, after promontory. It is a story made up of a series of events and filled with a cast of people and companies. Heinz organized a foodpacking company to market the 1st of his 57 varieties. Workers also risked their lives blasting tunnels through mountains. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. Nothing like this great work had ever been seen in the world when the golden spike was driven in promontory peak, utah, in 1869, as the central pacific and the union pacific tracks were joined.
Nothing like it in the world is a narrative history of the planning and construction of the pacific railroad during the 1860s which connected the san francisco bay and council bluffs, iowa by rail. The central pacific railroad and the union pacific railroad lines met at promontory summit, utah. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad o gauge railroading on line forum. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 kindle edition by ambrose, stephen e download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The first transcontinental railroad in 1869 rendered from utley 1960 click on image for a pdf version the original grade follows a route eastward from lucin, utah, near the nevada border, around the northern end of the great salt lake over promontory summit to ogden. Bain, david harward, empire express, building the first transcontinental railroad 1999. Pdf rightslink rights and permissions read an excerpt buying options. The transcontinental railroad discusses this important milestone in the expansion of the united states and its impact on the nation, both positive and negative. Modern history the treaty of versailles june 28, 1919.
Afterwards we furnish a history and description of the railroad structures and settlements along the abandoned. The first transcontinental railroad in 1869 rendered from utley 1960 click on image for a pdf version. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869 the world reports on celebrations in new york and elsewhere upon the laying of the last spike in promontory point, the utah territory. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869 ebook written by stephen e.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. It needed 4,000 men to lay tracks for the eastbound section of the transcontinental railroad. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. Celebrating the sesquicentennial anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the united states, after promontory. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869. It was here on may 10, 1869 that california governor stanford drove the golden spike or the last spike, that symbolized the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. This book salvages stories often omitted from the triumphant narrative of progress. Transcontinental railroad printable mini books, lesson plans and ideas. The promontory branch of transcontinental railroad 1869 1904 the first in utah spring g r e s r laxe o.
In 1863 the union pacific rr began construction from omaha, nebr. May 7, 1869 the union pacific track reaches promontory point. From the chamber of commerce of newyork to the chamber of commerce of san francisco, on the completion of the pacific. Transcontinental railroad links east and west, 1869 newseumed. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869. January 20 elizabeth cady stanton is the first woman to testify before the united states congress. Everything was by the book, and increasingly complex set of rules told everyone exactly.
Presents a study of the transcontinental railroad that began in sacramento, california and omaha, nebraska and linked at promontory point in utah in 1869 and examines the westward expansion and manifest destiny. This book covers all aspects of the history surrounding the transcontinental railroad, with the detail of a diary. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. Little more than a collection of tents and makeshift workers shacks, its an unlikely spot from which to. Year 4 timeline modern history wilbur and orville wright december 17, 1903 henry ford 1908. It included the regions natural history and illustrations of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and. It made history when it joined the union pacific no.
With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. The story of the transcontinental railroad sandler, martin w. The history of the transcontinental railroad trains magazine. Presented in a comic book format, this mini book will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. The first transcontinental railroad november 6, 1869 george washington carver. Over the next seven years, the two companies would race toward each other from sacramento. Transcontinental railroad this pbs take on the transcontinental railroad brings ample detail and great archival material, along with the commentary of some of our best railroad historians.
The first transcontinental railroad was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. Little more than a collection of tents and makeshift workers shacks, its an unlikely spot from which to witness the transformation of the united states. This is the story of the brave men, the famous and the unheralded, ordinary men doing the extraordinary who accomplished the spectacular feat that. The railroad opened for through traffic on may 10, 1869, when cprr president leland stanford. Union pacific was finished first, reaching ogden 1,028 miles from omaha on march 7, 1869. The first transcontinental railroad primary source documents. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 was a major event in california history.
As it was, only six years after construction began, the eastern and western rail lines met at promontory summit, utah, on may 10, 1869. Railroads in utah utah division of state history utah. Download pdf the transcontinental railroad free online. Utah history to go historians agree that the driving of the golden spike marking the completion of the transcontinental railroad at promontory summit, utah, on 10 may 1869 was one of the most important events in united states history, as it was also in utah history. Its may 10, 1869, and a spirited crowd has gathered in isolated promontory summit, deep in utah territory, to make history. This article is part of the history of rail transport by country series. Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than thirty books. The railroad opened for through traffic between sacramento and omaha on may 10, 1869, when cprr president leland stanford ceremonially tapped the gold last spike later often referred to as the golden spike with a silver hammer at promontory summit. I have read it but i have also read several articles in prototype rr magazines buy respected rr historians claiming it is wrong in many areas and continues false history as if it were fact. Obviously, not only did more mileage mean more territory but also greater revenue. The history of the union pacific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present. Ambrose was a pop history writer who wrote for the masses. In 1862, the pacific railroad act chartered the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies, tasking them with building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Completed in 1869 with the driving of the famous golden spike at promontory summit, utah, the transcontinental railroad revolutionized transportation across the united states and fundamentally changed the american west, sparking social, economic, environmental, and political change.
691 111 1296 1196 269 697 429 566 176 683 80 1248 950 307 732 525 922 744 1200 940 21 637 1050 207 267 350 1197 203 1388 584 477 938 757 59 671 1436 615