Photo by A.J. Russell of the celebration following the driving
of the "Last Spike" at Promontory Summit, Utah.

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.

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.

Destined to become one of the state’s major exports, the first
trainload of oranges grown by Southern California farmers left
Los Angeles via refrigerator cars of the transcontinental railroad.

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.