In 1869, the continental United States was joined together by a railroad that spanned the entire country from coast to coast. In the East, the Union Pacific Railroad headed west from Omaha through wild and sparsely-settled prairies. And from the West, the Central Pacific Railroad climbed through mountain passes and ranges to reach its destination. The place where they met, and completed the transcontinental railroad, was Promontory, Utah, a place located in the salt plains of the Great Salt Lake. The Golden Spike National Historical Park celebrates this achievement near where the railroads met and a golden railroad spike was driven.
The museum contains interesting artifacts – photographs, personal items, tools, and more – of the people who built the railway. Plaques commemorate the work and sacrifice of those who connected a nation. Also, there are accurate replicas of the famous train engines that met – the “Jupiter” and the “119”. When you visit, you may want to bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it with the kids. The park is located about 30 miles off of the Interstate.