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 connected 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.

Thomas Hill’s famous painting “Driving the Last Spike”
features Leland Stanford at the place of honor. The
painting was commissioned by Stanford, who later
refused to pay for it. (California State Railroad Museum)