EAST MEETS WEST DAY (1869)
Categories: Anniversary, Transportation, Travel & Tourism & Technology & Telecom
Location: United States
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 10, 2024
Location: United States
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 10, 2024
About East Meets West Day
"On may 10, 2024 the last stake was driven into the Transcontinental Railroad (Pacific Railroad) in Promontory Summit near Ogden Utah. This simple ceremony marked the official linking the Eastern half of the United States with the Western Half.
The rail line was 1,907 miles in length and took six years to build and is heralded as one of the great American technological feats of the 19th century. Theodore Judah was the architect of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The railroad was largely constructed by Chinese immigrants and Mormon laborers in the West. In the East Irish and other immigrant groups helped to lay track.
Upon the replacement of the ceremonial gold spike with an ordinary iron spike, a message was transmitted to both the East Coast and West Coast by telegraph. It was one word,”DONE.""
Prior to the completion of the railroad, it took 6 months to travel from one side of the US to the other. After, the journey could be made in one week. "
The rail line was 1,907 miles in length and took six years to build and is heralded as one of the great American technological feats of the 19th century. Theodore Judah was the architect of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The railroad was largely constructed by Chinese immigrants and Mormon laborers in the West. In the East Irish and other immigrant groups helped to lay track.
Upon the replacement of the ceremonial gold spike with an ordinary iron spike, a message was transmitted to both the East Coast and West Coast by telegraph. It was one word,”DONE.""
Prior to the completion of the railroad, it took 6 months to travel from one side of the US to the other. After, the journey could be made in one week. "
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