Last Spike Driven
Noon...Monday...May 10th, 1869
A rough crowd had gathered at the far set of tracks
75 yeards ahead. Six million spikes and six years' work
lay behind them. Now, only one section of rails was
left undone. The honor of ceremonially "finishing"
the Pacific railroad with a spike maul hot-wired to
the telegraph line fell to the two rail barons who had
spearheaded the roadbuilding: Stanford and Durant.
Speeches were given and then a lengthy prayer.
Governor Stanford stepped up, took the hammer,
swung, and missed the spike. With each swing
of the mauls, the crowd of workingmen broke into
spontaneous applause.
James Stobridge and Samuel Reed, the crew bosses
for the two roads, then took up un-wired mauls
and divided the last blows between them, as the air
exploded with hurrahs.
With those last few swings, the billion-dollar dream
of the world's first transcontinental railroad became
a reality.
Leland Stanford,
Central Pacific Railroad
President, and former
governor of California
Dr. Thomas Durant,
Union Pacific Railroad
Vice President, and
President of Credit
Mobilier of America
Don't miss the rest of our virtual tour of Golden Spike National Historical Site in 660 images.