GOLDEN SPIKE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

UTAH

Located in northern Utah, Golden Spike National Historic Site commemorates the building and completion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad.

Here on May 10, 1869, that the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads joined their last sections of track to span America with a ribbon of iron rails. Those rails bound the country geographically and economically, ushering in a new era of expansion and trade that would forever change the American West. Today, the park stands as a monument to the most impressive engineering feat of the 19th century and honors those who gave their all, sometimes their lives, to achieve this great enterprise.

Evidence of efforts to create the railroad is everywhere in Golden Spike. Historic railroad grades, from both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific, weave throughout the park. These grades are interspersed with trestles, trestle abutments and culverts, many of which date back to the original construction period of the railroad and offer unique opportunities for visitors to explore the past and imagine what it would have been like to construct the railroad using only hand tools.

The harsh, waterless landscape also sparks one's imagination as to what life must have been like for the thousands of workers who built the railroad. Braving temperature extremes and other ravages of nature, Chinese, Irish and Mormon workers labored side by side to build the railroad across Utah. Their dugout encampments are visible all through the park and are further testament to the hardy and determined nature of these individuals.

Golden Spike was designated as a National Historic Site in nonfederal ownership on April 2, 1957, and authorized for federal ownership and administration by an act of Congress on July 30, 1965. The visitor center was opened just in time for the centennial celebration of the railroad's completion in 1969, which drew a crowd of more than 10,000 people.

DID YOU KNOW

• The first transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory Summit not Promontory Point, as is widely reported in textbooks, travel brochures and other publications. In 1869, the only recognized location in the area that appeared on most maps was Promontory Point, which is several miles to the south of the summit. Consequently, reporters at the last spike ceremony reported their location as being Promontory Point. This case of mistaken identity has continued for more than 130 years!
• Promontory Summit was chosen as the meeting place of the two railroads because it was literally the halfway point between each company's end of track.
• There were four precious metal spikes used in the last spike ceremony: two gold, one silver, and one silver and gold. One gold spike and the silver spike reside in a museum at Stanford University. The silver and gold spike is in the Museum of the City of New York. The whereabouts of the second gold spike remains a mystery.
• The Central Pacific laid more than 10 miles of track in one day. Even with modern railroad equipment, this feat has never been equaled.
• A golden spike was not driven during the last spike ceremony. It is thought that the four precious metal spikes were placed into pre-drilled holes in a special tie and ceremonially tapped by railroad dignitaries. The last spike was actually a common iron one, just like the millions of other spikes used in the construction of the railroad.

DON'T MISS ATTRACTIONS

• Every Saturday and holiday during the summer, a group of dedicated volunteers reenact the Last Spike Ceremony. Cheer along with the crowd and feel the excitement as the two railroad companies close one chapter in our nation's history and open another - the era of the railroad. Visitors are often invited to become members of the cast.
• Locomotives perform steam demonstrations daily during the summer. The Jupiter and No. 119 are lovingly handcrafted replicas of the original locomotives that were present at the Last Spike Ceremony, in 1869. The locomotives are beautifully painted, highly decorated and are truly reflections of the gilded age and the heyday of railroad travel. Hear that lonesome whistle blow and be transported back in time, as you witness the beauty and power of these two engineering marvels.
• On May 10th every year, the park hosts an anniversary celebration of "the wedding of the rails." Several thousand people attend to honor the achievements of Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad companies. Each year a different cultural group is highlighted for their association with the building of the railroad.
• Mark your calendar for the second Saturday in August. The Railroader's Festival is a day of railroad-related family fun with events such as spike-driving contests and hand-cart races. This is a day you and your family will never forget!

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PRIORITIES

Preservation efforts are at the very heart of the National Park Service's mission to protect the resources of America's great cultural and natural treasures. The railroad features at Golden Spike are examples of historic preservation at its best. Preservation projects along the historic railroad grades include stabilizing dry laid stone, re-establishing proper drainages, reconstructing culverts, excavating buried features and protecting all features through a pest management program. It is a constant challenge to preserve these rare pieces of history.

In 2002, Golden Spike National Historic Site was formally recognized for its preservation efforts by the Utah Heritage Foundation. According to park Superintendent Mary Risser, the success of the park's preservation efforts, "…reaffirms the park's commitment to serve as an example of preeminent historic preservation practices."

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LINKS:

Golden Spike National Historic Site»

Partnering & Managing for Excellence Report»

Previously Featured Parks»