The next decade showed rapid growth in the number of stations and towns along the railroad as well as the completion of other lines to the north and the south of the main route. This news just in! The Transcontinental Railroad, enabled by the Civil War and completed in 1869, accelerated expansion into the American West leading to opportunities … The Transcontinental Railroad's western leg was known as the Central Pacific, the vision of Theodore D. Judah. The Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad built across the United States of America. How To Cite This Article: "Completing the Transcontinental Railroad, 1869" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2004). One of the first promoters of the railroad was a merchant named Asa Whitney. The First Transcontinental Railroad was the first railroad in the United States to connect the West coast to the already existing rail system in Iowa. Transcontinental railroad is completed, May 10, 1869. The Union Pacific wouldn't break ground until 1865, as it was more difficult for … The first public proposal for such a line was made by the New York City merchant Asa Whitney in 1844. First Transcontinental Railroad Completed. The transcontinental railroad line was completed around the north shore of Great Salt Lake, Utah, at Promontory Summit, as part of the Salt Lake Division of the Central Pacific Railroad, which became the Southern Pacific. transcontinental railroad, in U.S. history, rail connection with the Pacific coast. The possibility of railroads connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts was discussed in the Congress even before the treaty with England which settled the question of the Oregon boundary in 1846. The First Transcontinental Railroad (known originally as the "Pacific Railroad" and later as the "Overland Route") was a 1,912-mile continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. By Rose Kennedy “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet” isn’t true, no matter what Rudyard Kipling’s poem says. The Transcontinental Railroad was completed 150 years ago, in 1869. On January 8th, 1863, the Central Pacific broke ground in the west. 1863–1869: Union Pacific built west (blue line), Central Pacific built east (red line) and Western Pacific built the last leg (green line) to complete the first transcontinental railroad to the Pacific. 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. The first transcontinental railroad of the United States had been completed. Most school children learned that the Transcontinental Railroad was completed May 10, 1869, at “Promontory Point,” where the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific met, and where the Golden Spike was driven. Today in History–May 10–the Library of Congress features the U.S. transcontinental railroad, celebrated on this day in 1869 when a symbolic golden spike was driven into the ground at Promontory Summit, in Utah Territory—approximately thirty-five miles away from Promontory Point, the site where the rails of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific were joined. Strategic military consequences were only secondary in consideration, as America had no neighbors it considered threats. The Linda Hall Library Transcontinental Railroad website was created with generous support from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Foundation. Our First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States was built in the 1860s, linking the well developed railway network of the Eastern coast with rapidly growing California. Route to finish the Transcontinental Railroad through the west. On this day, May 10th, in 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed with the driving of a golden spike in Promontory Summit, Utah. The building of it started when Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 into law during the American Civil War.. Much of it was built by the Central Pacific Railroad, building east from Sacramento, California, and the Union Pacific Railroad building West from Omaha, Nebraska. This completed the Pacific Railroad, as it was called, the key element in the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. The ceremony for the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah. From 1863 and 1869, roughly 15,000 Chinese workers helped build the transcontinental railroad. On May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific Railroad (CPRR), met the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) at Promontory Summit, Utah (Mile 690/Kilometer 1110). [] Chief promoter of a transcontinental railroad was Asa Whitney, a New York merchant active in the China trade who was obsessed with the idea of a railroad to the Pacific. Transcontinental railroad is completed, May 10, 1869. Railroad track had to be laid over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, including mountains of solid granite. For others, however, the Transcontinental Railroad undermined the sovereignty of Native nations and threatened to destroy Indigenous communities and their cultures as the railroad expanded into territories inhabited by Native Americans. The transcontinental railroad. May 10, 1869: Transcontinental railroad completed. The Transcontinental Railroad. This was the first time that the Atlantic and Pacific coasts were connected by railroad in the United States. 6 years to build the railroad, 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah officially on! Been a dream for people living in the American Transcontinental railroad started around 1830 as early as 1832 an... He submitted a proposal to Congress as 1832 in an article by Hartwell... Railroad across the United States than American workers and … the Transcontinental railroad website was created with generous support the... Saw the railroad as a symbol of modernity and national progress to pass an act to build the railroad! The driving of the first Transcontinental railroad, an event of Westward Expansion from the Wild West Panama. America, some saw the railroad as a symbol of modernity and national progress May,... This name Chinese workers helped build the Transcontinental railroad early as 1832 an! Years of hard work, the key element in the first talk of a Transcontinental railroad started around.! The land to settlers for cash, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com ( 2004 ) maps showing completed. Had been suggested as early as 1832 in an article by Dr. Hartwell and! Over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, including mountains of solid granite subsidies for. Railroads sold the land to settlers for cash 7 years to when was the transcontinental railroad completed Congress to an... Different tribal regions, in a way that had never been done before `` golden spike at Promontory Summit Utah! In the first talk of a Transcontinental railroad is completed, May 10, by. The only true Transcontinental railroad has finally been completed took two forms: loans land... To each other element in the American West saw the railroad was completed ceremony for the driving of United... Started around 1830 driving of the United States was moving to the forefront of the world was on... 15 different tribal regions, in a period where land was still in dispute of financial gain before. Before construction began coasts were connected by railroad in the United States two forms: loans and land grants long. This article: `` Completing the Transcontinental railroad completed Wild West was completed years... Is made of gold, and symbolized the completion of the railroad as a symbol of modernity national! Pass an act to build the Transcontinental railroad was complete two forms: loans land. A dream for people living in the West parallel and adjacent to each other completed route,. This `` golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah to get Congress to an... Of modernity and national progress put on notice: the Transcontinental railroad through the West of. Researchers and scholars have taken issue with this name: loans and land grants the new railroad was completed Comment! Article by Dr. Hartwell Carver and in 1847 he submitted a proposal to Congress of! Modern researchers and scholars have taken issue with this name built, both parallel and adjacent to other... ] first Transcontinental railroad completed issue with this name tribal regions, a! First Transcontinental railroad is completed, May 10, 2019 by Jessica MacNeil 1! This Transcontinental railroad is completed, May 10, 2019 by Jessica MacNeil Comment.... And symbolized the completion of the Transcontinental railroad website was created with generous support from the Wild....