Today in History: Transcontinental Railroad Completed

New Map Of The Union Pacific Railway, The Short, Quick And Safe Line To All Points West
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. This railroad connected the United States from coast to coast, reducing a four-month journey to just one week. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more related primary sources.

Pacific Railroad Act

Transcontinental Railroad

Union Pacific primary sources

Central Pacific primary sources

Related resources