Posts Tagged ‘Promontory’

Promontory is the site where one of greatest technological feats of the 19^th century was accomplished; the completion of the North American Transcontinental Railroad. At Promontory the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento, California and Union Pacific Railroad from Council Bluffs, Iowa were connected, thus linking the eastern and western United States by rail for the first time. Connecting the east and west coasts by rail would prove to be a pivotal event in transforming the American West both economically and demographically.

A six year endeavor, the rail line was started in 1863 and was completed at Promontory on May 10, 1869, just 4 years after the Civil War had ended and only 100 years before man would land on the moon.

Location of Promontory

Map of Promontory

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