Image description: This photo shows the joining of two railroads, marking the 143rd anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States. Completed on May 10, 1869, the railroad shortened the cross country trip from four months to just one week.
A ceremony was held in Promontory Summit, Utah, about 35 miles away from where the railroad was joined together by the “Golden Spike,” which finally connected the two sides of the railroad, marking its completion. The National Park Service now operates the Golden Spike Historical Site in Promontory Point, Utah.
Learn more about the First Transcontinental Railroad.
Photo by A.J. Russell and Charles Phelps Cushing, photographers documenting the event.
We welcome your comments if you are 13 or older, and hope that our conversations here will be polite. You are responsible for the content of your comments.
We do not discriminate against any views, but may delete any of the following:
- violent, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments
- comments that threaten or harm the reputation of any person or organization
- advertisements or solicitations of any kind
- comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
- multiple off-topic posts or repetitive posts that are copied and pasted
- personal information including, but not limited to, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses, or identification numbers
In short: be nice and add to the discussion. If you continually violate this policy, we may limit your ability to comment in the future. If you have any questions or comments about this policy, please e-mail us.
