Golden Spike National Historical Park

Commemorating one of the most significant achievements in American history, Golden Spike National Historical Park marks the site where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads met on May 10, 1869. This monumental event completed the first Transcontinental Railroad, forever changing transportation, commerce, and communication across the nation. Visitors can explore the exact location of the 'Last Spike' ceremony, a moment that literally connected the East and West coasts by rail.

The park offers a rich interpretive experience with reconstructed locomotives, the Jupiter and No. 119, which perform re-enactments of the historic 'driving of the last spike' during warmer months. Beyond the iconic ceremony site, the park features hiking trails along the original railroad grade, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of those who built this engineering marvel. Educational exhibits detail the challenges faced by the railroad workers, the technology of the era, and the profound impact of the railroad on American society and the expansion westward.