Golden Spike 150 ceremony: How Utah celebrated the transcontinental railroad anniversary

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PROMONTORY — One hundred and fifty years ago Friday, the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory Summit. It was the moment that connected the eastern part of the U.S. with the western part and changed the country forever.

Thousands gathered to the spot the railroad at Golden Spike National Historic Park Friday to commemorate the moment.

A replay of the event can be found here and a recap of the event be found below.

Friday, 12:32pm

A reenactment of the golden spike and a toast

The flag that flew over the golden spike ceremony in 1869 was flown over the Jupiter and Union Pacific No. 119 before a reenactment of the golden spike ceremony from 150 years ago. The reenactment included everything from actors portraying Union Pacific and Central Pacific leaders and telegraph operator who sent the message out to President Ulysses S. Grant and to throughout America. taps

It was followed by a toast from Daniel Mulhall, the Irish ambassador to the United States, to the workers who built the railroad. "I’m truly honored to stand here today in recognition of the enormous role played by some 10,000 Irish men in the building of the transcontinental railroad,” he said. He pointed out those workers were among the 6 million immigrants from 1840 to 1900, including many who escaped from a famine in Ireland at the time. "Those Irish workers were, of course, joined in the great endeavor we celebrate today by many thousands of Chinese workers and others, including from the Mormon settlements here in Utah, Native Americans and recently emancipated African-Americans. That mix of peoples working together in harmony in pursuit of a shared objective was characteristic of this land of opportunity that was 19th Century America,” he continued. “It made this country a beacon of hope and expectation for so many millions of people who came here from all over the world, including from my home country.” His message was followed by a video message from Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the United States. "This is a project of a wonder of the world that linked America together from sea to shining sea and laid the foundation for the American economic boom,” he said. “This is also a telling example of how the Chinese and American people can come together to get things done and make the impossible possible. This is particularly true today. A strong bond between China and the United States can deliver real benefits to our two countries.” Their messages were followed by a musical reenactment of how the whole project came together 150 years ago.

Fireworks and a flyover to end the show! Great day at #GoldenSpike 150th anniversary event. #Spike150 #KSLTV 🚂 pic.twitter.com/eMiI9TgEPZ
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 10, 2019

Friday, 12:10pm

Meacham: 'The story of the transcontinental railroad is the story of America'

Author Jon Meacham rounded out Friday’s speakers. Meacham thought of the boldness of President Abraham Lincoln to think of the transcontinental railroad while in the middle of the Civil War. The fact that it could be accomplished within the same decade was a feat in itself, he added. "The story of the transcontinental railroad is the story of America for better and for worse," he said. "Both are stories of ambition and of drive, of vision and of unity, of hope and of history." He continued to say it seemed fitting that Friday’s ceremony came at a time of political division yet again. "That’s why this is a good moment and good place to reflect on who we’ve been, who we are and where we might go in the next 150 years," Meacham said. "To know what’s come before is to be armed with despair." While Friday was a celebration of the accomplishment, Meacham added we “should be honest” about its history, such as what the railroad meant for Native Americans. “We should not sentimentalize the American experience. The nation has been morally flawed — often egregiously so — from the beginning. We must be honest about that — honest about the plights of African-Americans, Native Americans, of women who have not yet voted for a century in this country, of immigrants and our honesty should lead us to do all that we can to be about the work of justice.”

Friday, 11:58am

A moment of silence for the rail workers

A ceremonial wreath was placed on a section of rail prior to a moment of silence for the workers who died constructing the transcontinental railroad. This was followed by taps being played. taps

Friday, 11:53am

The golden spike message still matters today, Union Pacific president says

Friday’s theme is “as one.” While there were two railroad companies that worked to build the transcontinental railroad in 1869, technically both stand as one today. Central Pacific Railroad went on to merge with Southern Pacific Railroad, which was later bought out by Union Pacific. So in a way, Union Pacific President Lance Fritz represented both railroads 150 years later. Fritz said the meeting of the two rails on May 10, 1869, was not the end of the rail. He said the inscription put on the golden spike back then still can be applied today: “May God continue to unite this country as this railroad unites the two great oceans of the world.” “That hope stands the test of time,” Fritz said. “It’s a prayer we’d all be wise to reiterate today.”

Friday, 11:50am

The importance of the transcontinental railroad

You may wonder why the driving of the golden spike was so special? “The transcontinental railroad was a tremendous feat of engineering, innovation and manpower that was key to unleashing the economic prosperity of the United States for generations,” said Elaine Chao, the U.S. Transportation Secretary. “It was one of the greatest infrastructure projects in our country.” Chao pointed out that within three years of its completion people could travel from New York to San Francisco in just one week. It used to take six months prior to that. The adjustment led to “explosive economic growth,” she added.

Friday, 11:45am

President Nelson: 'Coming together as one'

Following the ceremony of the copper spike, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke of an iron spike created under Brigham Young’s direction after the completion of the railroad connecting Salt Lake City to Ogden. It read, “holiness to the Lord.” Gov. Gary Herbert held up the copper spike with the iron spike. “Now we have two!” Herbert exclaimed with a chuckle. President Nelson continued by saying the transcontinental railroad was an example of what can be accomplished when “we join hands. “I thought about people — the thousands of Chinese and Irish immigrants, the newly-freed slaves from the southern states, the veterans who had fought so recently in the Civil War, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were trying to settle in this harsh land, the Native Americans, whose land was forever altered, and the many immigrants from Italy, Germany and other places that came together to build this railroad that crossed our vast country,” he said. “They came together as one.”

Friday, 11:38am

Utah home of the Super 6?

A sign to officially recognize Golden Spike as a National Historical Park was unveiled during Friday’s ceremony. “Move over Mighty 5, we are now the Super 6,” said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, referencing how it adds to the national parks already in Utah. Bishop added it was important to recognize Promontory Summit and the transcontinental railroad. “It is that century’s moon landing,” he said. That ceremony was followed by a public appearance of the Utah copper spike and a ceremonial reenactment of driving in that spike. That spike was first unveiled during a private event Wednesday.

The ceremonial driving of the Utah copper spike #Spike150 https://t.co/hBAV925J14 pic.twitter.com/Gowkt7T0H9
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) May 10, 2019

Friday, 11:14am

Interior Secretary in Utah for event

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt led off speakers for Friday’s event. He credited foresight, courage and risk-taking from President Abraham Lincoln and others in Washington, as well as those running the railroads at the time to create a system the linked the country from east to west. “The story of this site says so much about this country,” he said. He was followed by a Native American prayer, a Native American song and a spirited rendition of the United States national anthem.

Friday, 10:11am

Presidential message about transcontinental railroad anniversary

President Donald Trump, who designated Golden Spike a National Historic Park earlier this year, issued a statement about Friday's anniversary. Trump's message read: "One hundred fifty years ago, the first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed, and our Nation was changed forever. On May 10, 1869, the final golden spike was driven into the ground at Promontory Summit, Utah, joining the tracks of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. This unbroken rail line of nearly 2,000 miles from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sacramento, California, connected the existing eastern rail network to the western states and territories, enabling passengers and goods to travel from coast to coast more economically and in as little as a week. "Our Nation celebrates the thousands of workers who diligently laid track for six years across desolate plains and treacherous mountains. We honor the undaunted efforts of the people who made this innovation possible, including workers of Irish and Chinese descent, as well as freed slaves, Native Americans, Civil War veterans, and Latter-day Saints. Roughly 12,000 workers of Chinese ancestry worked to dig out a particularly challenging section. Through blizzards and other treacherous weather, they blasted and chiseled 15 tunnels through the hard granite of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. "We also honor our former leaders who had the vision and understanding that a robust infrastructure supports a vibrant economy. In the years that followed, this tremendous engineering feat helped revolutionize interstate travel and commerce. The completion of the transcontinental railroad catalyzed our country’s development, empowered greater settlement of the American West, and expanded prosperity from the Atlantic to the Pacific. "On this sesquicentennial celebration, we recognize the American ingenuity and the hard work and grit of all the workers that made the construction of this railroad and the unification of our Nation possible."

Friday, 10:10am

Youngsters enjoy Friday's event

Among those enjoying Friday's Golden Spike 150 celebration are the children learning about the history of the transcontinental railroad. KSL TV reporter Alex Cabrero tweeted these images of the youngsters enjoying the celebration.

It’s pretty cool seeing so many kids at the #GoldenSpike 150th anniversary. #Spike150 #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/DXSCruD908
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 10, 2019