Painting: Ceremony of the driving of the “Last Spike” at the Promontory Summit, by Thomas Hill (1829-1908). Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Transcontinental Railroad 150th Anniversary
Throughout the spring of 2019, the Center and its partners commemorated the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869.
Stanford Historical Society Events
Transcontinental Railroad Symposium at Stanford, April 6, 2019
In a morning symposium, the Stanford Historical Society reflected on the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and its legacy at Stanford. Presenters included a variety of Stanford faculty experts who discussed the impact of the railroad on American lives, fortunes and society.
Commemoration in Sacramento on May 18, 2019
The Stanford Historical Society led a commemoration of the Gold Spike’s 150th anniversary, which included presentations on the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on the American West, an official proclamation and a reception.
Related article: Stanford Historical Society plans railroad sesquicentennial events (Stanford News Service, Oct. 23, 2018)
Film Series at Stanford
Over the course of six weeks, the Stanford Historical Society and Stanford Continuing Studies presented a series of films, each introduced by historians, film scholars and researchers, that attempted to put these historical events in perspective. A discussion followed each screening.
Monday, April 15
Monday, April 22
Monday, April 29
Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project
150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike: Chinese Railroad Workers and the Transcontinental Railroad
On April 11 at Stanford, the organizers of this research project explored the newly recovered history of the Chinese immigrant workers who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad.