Transcontinental railroad map california. Most important, it offers full text access to the Linda Hall Library’s Travel back time and learn about key events surrounding the Transcontinental Railroad, from 1769 to 1889. The Linda Hall Library Transcontinental Railroad website was created with generous support from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Foundation. (inset) Southern Part Of Florida (Raster Image) Author: 3 John Hoyt Williams, A Great and Shining Road: The Epic Story of the Transcontinental Railroad (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988), 98. As a result, "it helped turn California from a once-isolated place to a major economic and political force, and helped lead to the state’s rapid growth" (Kiger). Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union The Central Pacific Railroad started from Sacramento, California, and worked eastward. The rail line through Niles Canyon was amongst the earliest to be built in California and provided the first rail connection between San Francisco Bay and the rest of the nation. Henry T. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States to be connected by rail for the first time in history. A large-scale grant map dated 1893, showing the alternate sections of public land granted to the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railway. Men Who Built The Transcontinental Railroad, The: Nothing Like It In The World. Linda Hall Library. New map of the Union Pacific Railway. " by Andrew M. This had a profound impact on the nation as a whole, and on California—the end of the line—in particular. 4 Sisson, Wallace & Co. [28] In 1906 the San Francisco earthquake destroyed the city’s municipal records, allowing Chinese-born people to claim that they were born in the United States, making them natural-born citizens, and allowing their children to enter Jul 1, 2014 · The Transcontinental Railroad for kids Ulysses Grant was the 18th American President who served in office from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877. S. After much controversy over where the railroad would pass, the Pacific Railroad Act, adopted in 1862, granted contracts for the first line between Omaha and Sacramento to two companies: the Union Pacific Company for the eastern section from Nebraska and the Central Pacific Company for America's first transcontinental railroad (known originally as the "Pacific Railroad" and later as the "Overland Route") was a 1,911-mile (3,075 km) continuous railroad line built between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern U. Oct 16, 2020 · The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, originally the Pacific Railroad. Geologic Atlas of the United States, Sierra Nevada Folios: Selected California Maps (1/4 images of Quadrangle Maps) showing the Central Pacific Railroad by Waldemar Lindgren, USGS, 1894-1900. Thomas C. “And Southern California made the Santa Fe. Map of Passes in the Sierra Nevada. , 1975. He came to California in 1849 at news of gold. Travel Fueled By The Goldrush Apr 25, 2022 · As a result, President Lincoln signed into law the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862 (Briggs 1974:7). Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. The transcontinental railroad. " [Enlarge Western Portion of Map] Rand, McNally & Co. , Chicago. The only Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. It highlights materials from the Stanford Libraries including pictures from the Alfred A. Library of Congress. Jan 27, 2003 · Narrator: The first Transcontinental Railroad has been called the engineering marvel of the 19th century and a flat-out swindle; it opened new economies in the American West, while consuming vast The first transcontinental railroad, the first transcontinental highway, the first transcontinental air route, and the first transcontinental telephone line all crossed Donner Summit. They established businesses such as laundry services and restaurants. Entered 1861 by J. S Aug 28, 2024 · Rand McNally and Company. Documentation Compiled After. Explore 25 million acres of timeless traditions, local culture, events, and world-class adventures from Lava Beds National Monument to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Dec 19, 2022 · After the Transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, California, a major railroad town close to Donner Summit. H. Building had simultaneously proceeded from the Bay Area and Sacramento and met at the San Joaquin River. Jan 29, 2008 · The First Transcontinental Railroad was built crossing the western half of America and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. Transcontinental Railroad 1877: New Transcontinental Map of the Pacific Railroad. Yuba Pass Donner Sacramento Nevada County Sacramento County California Placer County, 1968. , but it’s routes also connect every state from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Most important, it offers full text access to the Linda Hall Library’s Transcontinental Railroad Learn more about the Transcontinental Railroad and see sites, the Travelstorys audio tour will guide visitors down 90 miles of original hand-constructed Transcontinental Railroad grade, managed as a National Backcountry Byway and located west of the Golden Spike National Historic Park. Apr 20, 2010 · In 1862, the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroad Companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the United States from east to west. Theodore D. , and Omaha, Neb. ” ). Calisphere: University of California. The First Transcontinental Railroad in North America was built in the 1860s, linking the well developed railway network of the East coast with rapidly growing California. This exhibit commemorates the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Modelski. Library of Congress, Washington, D. Sep 6, 2024 · By 1880, eleven years after the completion of the transcontinental line California featured a staggering 2,185 route miles of railroads! Today, the state holds over 6,000 miles of trackage with much of it concentrated around the its ten largest cities (the rest of which mostly fans outward north, south, east, and west in the way of key main lines). Step back into the past and discover how this railroad changed the method of emigration to Calfornia forever. The site offers visitors a brief history of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as information on the history and technology of 19th century railroads. Financing the Railroad Apr 10, 2019 · Union Pacific operates along much of the original Transcontinental Railroad route between Sacramento, Calif. The world was put on notice: the transcontinental railroad was completed and America was moving to the forefront of the world's stage. [1] May 10, 2019 · The legacy of the Chinese Exclusion Act also encompasses illegal Chinese immigration into the United States, as legal options were very limited under the law. California's symbolic and tangible connection to the rest of the country was fused at Promontory Summit, Utah, as the "last spike" was driven to join the tracks of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, thereby completing the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 (before that time, only a few local rail lines operated in the The idea of creating a transcontinental rail link evolved at the same time as the concept of Manifest Destiny. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. ) "NEW MAP OF THE AMERICAN OVERLAND ROUTE SHOWING ITS CONNECTIONS AND LAND GRANTS OF 30,000,000 ACRES. Cooper Collection. 5 Charles Nordhoff, California: A Book for Travellers and Settlers (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1872, 1874), 190; Williams, 97 - 98. Durant oversaw the Union Pacific at the time. First Transcontinental Railroad — Site of Completion of Pacific Railroad "The construction of the San Joaquin River bridge completed the last link of the transcontinental railroad. The pass gets its name from the ill-fated Donner Party who overwintered there in 1846. Use our Sierra Nevada travel planning map and the Free Mobile App to guide you through a breathtaking landscape that shapes our lives and unforgettable vacations. Aug 22, 2024 · Today, you can see two of the original Golden Spikes (a total of six were used); the original is housed at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University and another is on display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. 2 days ago · Railroad - Transcontinental, Expansion, Industry: The first public proposal for such a line was made by the New York City merchant Asa Whitney in 1844. May 8, 2019 · Maps and records associated with this survey are held within the series Maps and Plans for Transcontinental Railroad Routes in Southern California (Entry 31). At that time the United States did not hold outright possession of land west of the Rockies, though it exercised joint occupation of the Oregon Country until 1846, when under a treaty with Britain it gained possession of the Pacific coast Aug 24, 2024 · The pass has been used by the California Trail, First Transcontinental Railroad, Overland Route, Lincoln Highway and Interstate 80. Gold-rich California becomes the 31st state admitted into the Union. One of the important events during his presidency was the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on March 10, 1869. Jun 1, 2018 · The Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District is made up of the 11 mile-long section of the First Transcontinental Railroad that passes through Niles Canyon between the towns of Sunol and Fremont (Niles), north of San Jose, California. 1883. Welcome to our home. New Nov 27, 2022 · Connecting the continent was proposed for improved mail and connectivity with the frontier (“The Transcontinental Railroad. Over the next seven years, the The ceremony for the driving of the "Last Spike," the joining of the tracks of the CPRR and UPRR grades at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, Andrew J. The great race to Promontory: the 150th anniversary of driving the Golden Spike. The museum display will run through the end of May and coincides with the 150 th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. “The Santa Fe made Southern California,” says Richard White, a railroad historian. Union Pacific Railroad. Huntington, and Mark Hopkins—controlled the Central Pacific. From RG 48, Maps and Plans for a Transcontinental Railroad Near the 35th Parallel (Entry 30). Oct 24, 2019 · The First Transcontinental Railroad accelerated westward expansion at an explosive pace, and you can learn more about this innovative transportation method at the California Trail Interpretive Center. Judah returns Jan 27, 2003 · Narrator: The first Transcontinental Railroad has been called the engineering marvel of the 19th century and a flat-out swindle; it opened new economies in the American West, while consuming vast Read the Introduction to "Railroad Maps of the United States: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of Original 19th-century Maps in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress. The first train crossed the bridge on September 8, 1869 The entire transcontinental railroad measured approximately 1,774 miles in length, with 742 miles of track built by the Central Pacific Railroad through California, Nevada and Utah. in the 1830s, Americans dreamed of linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by rail. 172 William St. Apr 10, 2019 · Map showing the major places, roads, highways, and railroad locations related to the original U. California’s population the following year in 1870 was 560,247, but two decades later the state’s population more than doubled to 1,213,398. Judah convinced several Sacramento businessmen to invest in the Central Pacific Railroad. Mar 20, 2001 · The rail line, also called the Great Transcontinental Railroad and later the "Overland Route," was predominantly built by the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California (CPRR) and Union Pacific (with some contribution by the Western Pacific Railroad Company) over public lands provided by extensive US land grants. Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. An illustration of Fort Massachusetts, Colorado, made during the surveys. A transcontinental railroad would allow for settlement of the west, open new markets for eastern manufacturers, and bring relief to overcrowded eastern cities. Hart photographs, maps from the David Rumsey Map Center, and materials from Special Collections. The Pacific Railroad Surveys (1853–1855) were a series of explorations of the American West designed to find and document possible routes for a transcontinental railroad across North America. Courtesy Craig Crouch and the Sacramento Public Library. Such maps were used by land speculators to advertise railroad lands for sale to the public. The area is known for its challenging railroad routes and is a popular spot for railfans. " May 10, 1869. Amtrak's California Zephyr, a daily passenger service from Emeryville, California (in the San Francisco Bay Area) to Chicago, uses the first transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to central Nevada. All of those historic accomplishments helped build the nation as California was tied to the United States. See how the railroad winds throughout the West in this map from the pages of Trains Magazine. Judah was a brilliant civil engineer who dreamed of building a transcontinental railroad. C. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union Soon after the railroad made its appearance in the U. The presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail Historic American Engineering Record, Creator, and Owner Union Pacific Railroad. Published By J. The first Transcontinental Railroad (known originally as the "Pacific Railroad" and also as the “Great Transcontinental Railroad” and the “Overland Route”) was a continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869. ” The first Santa Fe depot, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Sources: Ambrose, Stephen E. Stanford University. Feb 6, 2022 · The Central Pacific Railroad Company started construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in Sacramento, California, while the Union Pacific Railroad Company started near the Iowa-Nebraska border. At The coming of the Transcontinental Railroad (TCRR), the first communication revolution in the United States. Russell's "East and West Shaking Hands at Laying of Last Rail. Nov 24, 2009 · The Transcontinental Railroad unified the United States. He worked tirelessly surveying a route for a railroad to connect California to the rest of the country. Colton, No. The original railroad names hundreds of stops along the tracks noting major and minor stations by font size. “In January 1865, convinced that Chinese workers were capable, the The Niles Canyon Railway operates along a portion of the First transcontinental railroad constructed in the 1860s. 17 1/4" x 35 3/4" Courtesy of the Bruce C. Jan 12, 2022 · The Sierra Nevada, the 400-mile-long range of granite peaks that form the backbone of California, was the most formidable obstacle in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. On January 1, 1863, ground was broken at Sacramento, California for the building of the first transcontinental railroad; the Central Pacific from Sacramento and the Union Pacific from Omaha Nebraska (Elliot 1928:2). Williams' map was printed 8 years after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Chinese railroad workers in North America Project. He found Just about every California school kid knows the story of the First Transcontinental Railroad, which connected the Eastern Seaboard with the Pacific Coast and was completed 150 years ago this week Apr 17, 2021 · The transcontinental railroad introduced the west to the world. (inset) Colton's Map of the United States Showing the Proposed Railroad Routes To The Pacific Ocean. ADDITIONAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD MAPS: Sep 4, 2019 · The completion of the transcontinental railroad led to heightened racial tensions in California, as white workers from the East Coast and Europe could more easily travel westward where immigrant Apr 6, 2003 · "New Map of the American Overland Route" February, 1881 (Click on each image below to enlarge. . Central Pacific Transcontinental Railroad, Sacramento to Nevada state line, Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA. A transcontinental railroad in the United States is any continuous rail line connecting a location on the U. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. Once the railroad was completed, it slowly ended the more hazardous stagecoach and wagon caravans. Photos Mar 1, 2019 · The History Project at University of California, Davis, invites K-12 teachers from around the country to spend a week of summer 2019 learning about the Transcontinental Railroad from its conceptual origins, through feats of labor and engineering, and on to its social, political, and economic impact during and after the Gilded Age. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900. Get off the beaten path and find our Colton's New Railroad & County Map Of The United States, The Canadas &c. The transcontinental railroad connected the east and west coasts of the United States with a single rail line. May 7, 2019 · And for the first time ever, the complete physical map is on public display at the California Railroad Museum. The Last Spike ceremony, where the track from the East was joined to its counterparts from the West, took place at May 10, 2019 · According to the Chinese Railroad Workers Project, Central Pacific started with a crew of 21 Chinese workers in January 1864. The full path of the Transcontinental Railroad, once complete, eventually measured about 1,907 miles long and cut through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. The rail line through Niles Canyon to San Francisco was the final segment of the First May 10, 2019 · Transcontinental Railroad Lines, 1880s: This map shows clearly the many connections from Chicago and other points in the East to points in the West, little more than 10 years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Colton New York. Finally, after years of grueling labor, the two sides met on May 10, 1869, in Promontory Utah. 1876; 1881 Litho. Maps of current Amtrak passenger routes from Chicago to the West Coast, each available through a link from the Determining the route of the first-ever transcontinental railroad is not an easy feat and in the mid-1800s, it probably seemed impossible to many: enter dreamers like Asa Whitney and Theodore Judah (nicknamed "Crazy Judah") to begin mapping proposed rail lines through treacherous landscapes such as the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The main line was officially completed on May 10, 1869. A group of California businessmen later called the “Big Four”—Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, Collis P. Both companies were promised vast amounts of land and government bonds for each mile of track laid down on the railroad. , Advertisement, Railroad Gazetteer 1870, 53. , New York 1862. Colonization of California exploded in the late 1840s with the discovery of gold ("Transcontinental railroad", 2010). The telegraph lines were actually laid on the railroad right of way as the track was being May 31, 2022 · In 1862—one year into the Civil War—Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, “guaranteeing public land grants and loans” to the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, the two railroad companies chosen to complete the monumental task of building a transcontinental railroad (Onion). Mar 17, 2023 · We also learned how the railroad expanded between 1863-1869 to connect the Eastern United States with the west to form the First Transcontinental Railroad. fbgywqsnvnycctjesvxqgiihorwijqotnnbmdwhrdjqkpjyt