On May 10, 1869, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroads met in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into
a rail line that connects their railroads. This made transcontinental railroad
travel possible for the first time in U.S. history. No longer would western-
bound travelers need to take the long and dangerous journey by wagon
train, and the West would surely lose some of its wild charm with the new
connection to the civilized East.

                       
                      The original "golden spike", on display 
                      at the Cantor Arts Museum at Stanford
                         University.