Other than being Mother's Day, it is also Golden Spike Day! Back in 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed here in good ol' Utah. The railroad was built from the ends to the center and they met up in Promontory, Utah. Fun Fact - the railroad was only used for about 35 years before a better, faster route was discovered and erected. Since it fell out of favor and use, no major population has called Promontory their home.
I went there a few years ago and I remember it being very dusty and hot. We saw the golden spike, which was the ceremonial final spike to be driven in to the tracks. The above picture is from the last day, 140 years ago. Three cheers for history!
2 comments:
Yay! I talked about this in my USH class a few weeks ago and I told my kids about when I went and was 9 . . . so that was 16 years ago but I'm glad to hear it's still around to go and see :)
I learned a song about this in 4th grade....ahem...
"It happened on the 10th of May in 1869. A wedding sealed with gold and silver nails, the place was Promintory and the sun began to shine. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific a huggin and a chuggin down the trail, the place was Promintory and the sun began to shine, the setting of the wedding of the rails...."
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