Golden Spike National Historic Site part-2
May 31, 2007.
This morning we visited Brigham City, Utah & the
Bear River National
Migratory Bird Refuge. We dropped the motorhome at a Super Wal Mart located
at exit 364 and headed to Bear
River National Migratory Bird Refuge 20-miles west of Brigham City, then
to the Golden Spike National
Historic Site at Promnatory, Utah.
To get to Golden
Spike National Historic Site from I-15 take exit 368 and travel west on
SR 13 to the intersection with SR 83. Continue west on SR-83 for around 25-miles
following the brown signs.
Keep in mind that this is the 2nd part of a two-part
series covering the Golden
Spike National Historic Site. Do not forget to view the first one: Golden
Spike NHS part-1
Central Pacific's Jupiter
and Union Pacific's No 119 at Golden
Spike NHS
The Visitors Center has on display
two recreated icons of railroading history at the Last Spike Site. Central Pacific's
Jupiter and Union Pacific's No 119 steam out and perform for visitors on most
days, weater permitting.
Union
Pacific's Steam Engine 119 at Golden
Spike NHS
There was a Second Golden Spike
Arizona
Iron-Silver-Gold Spike
I
think there were others but I don't seem to have pictures of them.
With
the completion of the transcontinental Rail Road an arduous six months' journey
was reduced to less than a week. The prairie schooner passed into history replaced
by railway cars and steam engines.
For four years Americans closely followed
the progress of the railroad progress in their newspapers, anxious to see it completed.
By May 1869, intense attention was focused on this desolate corner of northern
Utah. The entire country was eager for word that the last spike had been driven.
A
telegraph signal sent from this site triggered a truly transcontinental extravaganza.
As the word went out over the wires, the nation went wild. In city after city,
church bells rang, trains hooted, fire engines howled, gongs clanged, and cannons
thundered. Citizens thronged the streets to watch parades. People sang The Star
Spangled Banner, prayed, and shouted themselves hoarse. Countless orators hailed
this as a "great day" of national destiny.
Plaque
to Commorate & Pay Tribute to the Chinese Workers of the Central Pacific Railroad
I couldn't pass up this plaque. The Chinese workers
on the western end of this monumental project actually make this project a reality.
Golden
Spike National Historic Site
Some things never change. Congress has as hard a time making decisions
today as they did back in the mid-1800s. It was Congress job to make a decision
where the two RR's would meet. As usual Congress did not make a decision until
the RR's had laid over 200-miles of parallel track. Of course the Rail Companies
did not mind since they were being financially rewarded for each mile of track
that they completed. Some things never change!
Birth
of Promontory, Utah
This
photo was taken one day before the transcntinental line was finished, a thirty-foot
gap in the railroad remains to be completed. Quickly a town grew at the Last Spike
Site and two of the first businesses, the Restaurant and the Red Cloud saloon,
stand in the background. Within days numerous other tents would appear as the
town of Promontory came into existence. Behind the crowd are some of the cars
which carried Central Pacific Railroad dignitaries to the celebration.
The
transcontinental railroad stimulated communications as well. As rails reached
into the wilderness, telegraph wires were strung alongside. Stage companies thrived
as freight and passengers were transported from end of track into the interior.
Slowly the frontier was opening to settlement.
Upon the transcontinental's
completion branch lines fanned out to newly-established communities. A telegraph
network developed. Mail delivery was improved. Under this momentium two more transcontinentals
were built, and by the 1890's the frontier had vanished.
Today this monument
remains an icon of westward expansion, the settlement of northern Utah and commemorates
an historic event that transformed America.
In my opinion this is
one historic place that everyone should visit. Not for the spectacular scenery
but to experience first hand the awesome achievement this site commemorates.
Keep
in mind that this is the 2nd part of a two-part series covering the Golden
Spike National Historic Site. Do not forget to view the first one: Golden
Spike NHS part-1
Until next time remember how good
life is.
Mike
& Joyce Hendrix
Until next time remember how good life
is.
Mike
& Joyce Hendrix who we are
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