Consists of photos from the 1960s including the 1969 Centennial Celebration at the Golden Spike historical site, later reenactments, descendants of the Chinese workers, commemorative coins and golden/silver spikes. Also includes historical photo reproductions of early railroad executives, and intercontinental railway workers and locations. Many of the photographs have chapter and page numbering, and were likely part of an unidentified publication. All photos are black and white, unless otherwise noted.
Completing the last link in the transcontinental railroad with a spike of gold was the brainchild of David Hewes, a San Francisco financier and contractor. The spike had been manufactured earlier that year especially for the event by the William T. Garratt Foundry in San Francisco. Two of the sides were engraved with the names of the railroad officers and directors. A special tie of polished California laurel was chosen to complete the line where the spike would be driven. The ceremony was originally to be held on May 8, 1869 (the date actually engraved on the spike), but it was postponed two days because of bad weather and a labor dispute that delayed the arrival of the Union Pacific side of the rail line.
On May 10, in anticipation of the ceremony, Union Pacific No. 119 and Central Pacific No. 60 (better known as the Jupiter) locomotives were drawn up face-to-face on Promontory Summit. It is unknown how many people attended the event; estimates run from as low as 500 to as many as 3,000; government and railroad officials and track workers were present to witness the event.
The golden spike was made of 17.6-karat copper-alloyed gold, and weighed 14.03 troy ounces. It was dropped into a pre-drilled hole in the laurel ceremonial last tie, and gently tapped into place with a silver ceremonial spike maul.
These photographs are arranged into two series. The first includes photographs from annual celebrations, most notably from the 100th anniversary celebration in 1969. The second series is comprised of prints of historical photographs, and were likely used as research or illustrations relating to the transcontinental railway creation and completion ceremony.
No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Golden Spike Reenactment photographs must be obtained from the
These materials were found in USU Archives in 2006; how or when they arrived at Special Collections is unknown.
Stock photograph by Arizona Photographic Associates, Inc.
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad
Photo credit: Thiokol Chemical Corp. Wasatch Division
"John Stewart" written on verso
"Glen Compton's" written on verso
"Glen Compton's" written on verso
"Glen Compton's" and "Return to John Stewart" written on verso
"Ted H. or Ruth H." written on verso
"Stella Postma[?]" written on verso
"Stella Postma[?]" written on verso
"Stella Postma[?]" written on verso
"Ted H. or Ruth H." written on verso
"Ted H. or Ruth H." written below caption
"Please return to John J. Stewart" stamped on verso
"Please return to John J. Stewart" stamped on verso
Photo credit: Golden Spike Ass'n Photos by Compton's Studio, JJ Stewart, Chairman
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Photo credit: Deseret News Photo
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Photo credit: Union Pacific Railroad Museum Collection
Caption reads: "Collis P. Huntingdon who handled Central Pacific's financial affairs in the East and guided many of the logistics vital to construction of the first transcontinental railroad. Southern Pacific Photo X 2202."
Photo credit: News and Publications Services, Stanford University
Caption reads: "Mark Hopkins who ran the day-to-day affairs of the Central Pacific, western link of the first transcontinental railroad."
Caption continues: "This photograph shows the grade being cut above Auburn. Please credit: Souther[n] Pacific Company. From: Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C."
Caption reads: "A Central Pacific work train at Emigrant Gap, looking toward the East with the Yuba Mountains in the background. The horse and buggy mounted piggyback style on one of the flatcars may be those of Alfred A. Hart, pioneer Central Pacific photographer, who took this photo in 1868. Southern Pacific Photo X 3005."
Caption reads: "The flag marks the point where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines were joined on May 10, 1869. This photograph was taken two months later. Please credit: Union Pacific Railroad. From: Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C."
Caption continues: "…is shown on the 'Big Trestle' which spanned a 405-foot ravine immediately east of the Golden Spike site at Promontory. The trestle was used for only a short time, soon abandoned in favor of a dirt-fill. UP photo by A.J. Russell. Courtesy Utah Historical Society."
Caption continues: "Note the small horse-drawn cars used to haul dirt"
Caption continues: "…meets Governor Leland Stanford's special train at Monument Point, near Promontory, Utah, where the governor was to participate in the 'Last Spike' ceremonies on May 10, 1869. Please credit: Southern Pacific Railroad. From: Association of American Railroads, Transportation Building, Washington, D.C. Note 'Jupiter' engine"
Credit: Union Pacific Railroad, From: Association of American Railroads, Transportation Building, Washington, D.C.
Caption: "The tremendous difficulties encountered by the Central Pacific Railroad in constructing the western end of a road to connect with the Union Pacific from the east are shown in this sketch by Joseph Becker. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Chinese coolies employed by the Central Pacific fought winter snows that drifted as high as 50 to 100 feet above the roadbed. From: Association of American Railroads, Transportation Building, Washington, D.C."
Caption: "The locomotive C.P. Huntington, CP engine No. 3 and one of the two smallest locomotives owned by the railroad, on Cape Horn high above the American River Canyon in 1867. This locomotive was donated to the State of California and is now at the California Exposition grounds in Sacramento. Southern Pacific Photo X281."
Credit: Union Pacific Railroad, From: Association of American Railroads, Transportation Building, Washington, D.C.
Caption: "Unexpectedly heavy snows forced Central Pacific's pioneer builders to build snow sheds over the railroad in the High Sierra where 30-foot packs handicapped construction forces. This photo was taken in 1867. Eventually, about 40 miles of sheds covered an almost continuous stretch at high elevations. Today only about three miles remain due to powerful new snow plows and other improved machinery and methods for snow fighting. Southern Pacific Photo X 157"
Caption continues: "…and a pioneer link in the Central Pacific, had been moved by early 1860 from Third and R Streets to larger quarters alongside the river docks at Front and K Streets. This provided a better connection not only with the heavy shipping that plied the river to and from San Francisco, but also with the Central Pacific, whose station is pictured in the background. Taken in 1869, this photo shows a CP freight train that has moved past the CP station to a point in front of the Sacramento Valley Rail Road. Southern Pacific Photo X 30."
Caption continues: "Known as a 'bucker' plow, it took as many as eight pioneer woodburning locomotives to ram a plow through the drifts in a heavy snowstorm. SP Photo X 399"
Caption reads: "Photograph taken at Promontory Point, Utah, at the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. The Pacific and Central Pacific lines were joined on May 10, 1869. Please credit: Union Pacific Railroad. From: Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C.
Caption continues: "… as Central Pacific forces were building the western link of the first transcontinental railroad, now a part of the Southern Pacific System. Rail layers, shown in the foreground, were followed by gangs of Chinese laborers who spaced and spiked the rail to the ties. A track laying record was set in April, 1869, when a picked gang of Irish rail layers, backed by a small army of truckmen, completed more than ten miles of track in one day. Please credit: Southern Pacific Compnay. From : Association of American Railroads, Transportation Building, Washington, D.C."