Transcontinental railroad utah map

Transcontinental railroad utah map. Places Golden Spike National Historic Park is located on the site of the town of Promontory, Utah. That history, and more of the Transcontinental Railroad, is explained today at Golden Spike National Historical Park at Promontory Summit, a sagebrush-strewn landscape that looks extremely close to the setting the railroad workers and speculators found in 1869, minus the tents and telegraph lines that had wires extending to both the ceremonial golden spike and the The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads vied to establish routes across the territory from western Iowa to northern California in a bitter contest. Stories Note: The Transcontinental Railroad Backcountry Byway’s Utah state designation is Central Pacific Railroad Trail Scenic Backway. 7 km) section of the original 1869 grade of the first transcontinental railroad . What used to take months by boat or horse drawn wagon could be done in a week from New York to San Francisco. 7. Apr 10, 2019 · Union Pacific Railroad as of 2019 The original Transcontinental Railroad route was the combined efforts of two railroads: the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. As Ogden became the connecting point for the Union Pacific, Central Pacific, Utah Northern, and Utah Central railroads, it also became the shipping, manufacturing, and finance capital of Utah. [1] It is an abandoned 13. Jun 1, 2011 · Now the visitor can only imagine the vision and effort of those who struggled to build the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. Completed in 1869 with the driving of the famous "Golden Spike" at Promontory Summit, Utah, the Transcontinental Railroad revolutionized transportation across the United States and fundamentally changed the American West, sparking social, economic, environmental, and political change. on May 10, 1869, the United States’ first Transcontinental Railroad was completed as the Central Pacific and Union Pacific lines were ceremoniously joined on Promontory Summit, Utah. Today the landscape looks much the same as it did in 1869, but the rails, the towns, and even the lonely rail sidings are gone. The story goes that on May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific Railroad’s tracks from the west were connected to the Union Pacific Railroad’s tracks from the east in Promontory Summit, Utah. The event — marked by the driving of a golden spike to complete the line — brought to a finish a grueling 7-year journey that began when President Abraham 10 Michael R. Apr 10, 2019 · Map showing the major places, roads, highways, and railroad locations related to the original U. 2. New map of the Union Pacific Railway. And the historic park at the The transcontinental railway was completed with a jubilant celebration on May 10, 1869, when the rails connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads were joined at Promontory, Utah. Oct 11, 2023 · While Utah railroads date back to the connection of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory just a year later in 1870 the Utah Central Railway completed its main line from the transcontinental connection at Ogden with Salt Lake City, a distance of some 40 miles. Ogden, Utah Union Station, Ogden, Utah Jan 18, 2008 · The study integrates previously published and unpublished documents with extensive field work along a 90-mile stretch of the original transcontinental railroad grade in northwestern Utah. May 8, 2019 · At around 12:45 p. By 2019, 150 years after joining their rails at Promontory Summit, Utah, only the Union Pacific remains. Ironside Disc Golf Course; Three Peaks Disc Golf Course; Three Peaks Non-Motorized Trail System; Thunderbird Canyon and Iron Hills Trails Jan 3, 2022 · The volume produced by Michael R. It was the first railroad to span from the Eastern United States to the Western United States, connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Sacramento, California. The Transcontinental Railroad was completed 150 years ago, in 1869. Driving into the Past: A Tour of Utah’s Transcontinental Railroad In 2019, we celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad. Jan 21, 2024 · Explaining The History . From The Days of a Man, Being Memories of a Naturalist, Teacher, and Minor Prophet of Democracy, by David Starr Jordan, Vol. It changed where Americans lived. On 10 May 1869 from Promontory Summit northwest of Ogden, Utah, a single telegraphed word, “done,” signaled to the nation the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. R. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $35. 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. And that brings us to the present, 1869, where in Utah’s West Desert an “army” of Chinese laborers support a team of Irish track-layers under the watch of Central Pacific Railroad executive Charles Crocker. This book will teach you about the transcontinental railroad, which helped link the United States from coast to coast. Colored in bright blue, a circular rail system includes the "Proposed Central Pacific Rail Road" starting in St. Fees are $20 per vehicle or $15 per motorcycle. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. BLM Sign Transcontinental RR Grade. Aug 13, 2023 · Numerous people and cultures came together to build the first transcontinental railroad. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $10 per person. There are slight detours around the wooden trestles, but 90 percent is the original grade. Fike. Note how UP was much larger thanks to the easier topography it was able to navigate between Promontory Summit, Utah and Omaha, Nebraska. Jul 4, 2009 · At Promontory Summit, Utah, the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad met on May 10, 1869 after 1,776 miles of track had been laid over six years. Jul 22, 2024 · Bain, David Haward. R. and Representative Karen Kwan. Merritt is a long overdue book that enlivens the history and archaeology related to the construction and maintenance of the Transcontinental Railroad from Sacramento, California, east to Ogden, Utah, with the focus being on northern Utah. Movies Filmed in Utah- Film locations for movies filmed in Utah between 1913-2017. The coming of the Transcontinental Railroad (TCRR), the first communication revolution in the United States. The First Transcontinental Railroad: Central Pacific and Union Pacific. The Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway represents an epic achievement in American history, linking East to West in the new nation. Most important, it offers full text access to the Linda Hall Library’s It was 150 years ago today—on May 10, 1869—that "The Last Spike" was driven into America's first transcontinental railroad. Galloway, John D. 5 miles (21. Photograph by Steve Berlin. Utah, on May 10, 1869, Andrew J. The idea for what became the Transcontinental Railroad began long before the Civil War's outbreak. Although the celebration has passed, opportunities to experience the Spike 150 events that sought to unify, educate, and inspire live on. 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 Dec 21, 2023 · Here's how chinese built the "other" transcontinental railroad – asamnews The transcontinental railroad Transcontinental railroad 1869 first states united pacific may promontory utah westward did map through west summit expansion american reconstruction history Sep 27, 2023 · Montana historic railroad map: 1881 indexed county map of Montana, indicating all railroad stations. On May 10, 1869, as the last spike was driven in the Utah desert, the blows were heard across the country. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a boisterous crowd gathered to witness the completion of one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century: the building of Related Activities: To recognize the enduring impact on Utah of the world’s first transcontinental railroad and the subsequent building of the Utah Central Railway, we recommend that you visit and read the Daughters of Utah Pioneers #358 monument, located in a planter in front of the Union Pacific Depot (east side of The Gateway, 400 West and South Temple). Ghosts of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad. [1] 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. Courtesy of US Bureau of Land Traveling exhibitions are curated as a collaborative partnership with local artists, arts organizations, and institutions. Check your work. Jun 6, 2024 · Railroad transcontinental history 1869 society completed hold historical presentation completion american continental trans topic. 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. 1, 1922. At a ceremony at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869, the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined and a solid gold railroad spike became the symbol for the completion of the railroad. Utah's diverse landscapes gives you multiple options for your next day trip. Nineteenth century railroad maps, including engineering profiles, station plans, right-of way and track plats, and miscellaneous inventories provide valuable Join Christopher Merritt, Ph. Follow the directions below: 1. 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. Do your best to fnish as much as you can. Show a ranger, a teacher, or another adult what you completed. Polk, “Interpreting Chinese Worker Camps on the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah,” The Archaeology of Chinese Railroad Workers in North America thematic issue Travel back time and learn about key events surrounding the Transcontinental Railroad, from 1769 to 1889. If you are 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. The spike was made of gold, so anyone could tell it was important This historic trail follows the last 90 miles of the Transcontinental Railroad. One of the important events during his presidency was the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on March 10, 1869. m. Mariner Books, 2020. Sacramento to Ogden, 1856-1869 – original construction dates of the Central Pacific Railroad route GIF version PDF version May 10, 2019 · According to the Chinese Railroad Workers Project, Central Pacific started with a crew of 21 Chinese workers in January 1864. 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 Transcontinental Railroad National Back Country Byway, also known as the Central Pacific Railroad Grade, is administered by the Bureau of Land Management for public use and enjoyment. A transcontinental railroad would shrink a dangerous, cross-country wagon-train journey of six months or more to less than a week, and it would open vast stretches of the West to new settlement Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. as he discusses life along the Transcontinental Railroad after the golden spike. Polk and Christopher W. Nov 24, 2009 · The presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail line that connects their railroads. The main line was officially completed on May 10, 1869. GIS (shapefile) Google Earth File (KMZ) Historic Railroads of Utah – Growth of Utah’s railroad system shown in three time periods. This trail, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake Field Office, is one of the few remaining original, historic railroad grades left that Traversing the flat lands of the Great Salt Lake Desert, the byway stretches between the area just west of Golden Spike National Historic Site and the Utah-Nevada border, following the deserted Central Pacific Railroad grade lain in 1903. The railroads also brought in greater diversity, including a significant African American community, some of the first permanent protestant churches in Looking west at the site of the former Terrace Switchyard, c1980 photograph. Become a Railroad The Ghost Dance and the Transcontinental Railroad; Anticipation and Anxiety: Utah and the Union Pacific Railroad; Utah and the Union Pacific Railroad Surveys; Latter-day Saints on the Transcontinental Railroad; The Union Pacific Railroad is Bankrupt; Utah after the Golden Spike Ceremony; Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of the The coming of the Transcontinental Railroad (TCRR), the first communication revolution in the United States. • Golden Spike National Historic Site charges a fee to enter. This iconic photograph records the celebration marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, when Leland Stanford, a cofounder of the Central Pacific Railroad, connected the eastern and western sections of the road with a golden spike. 3. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a boisterous crowd gathered to witness the completion of one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century: the building of The Transcontinental Railroad in Utah shows the impact of the large number of new arrivals on the population and economy of Utah, as well as the impact of the people of Utah on those newly arrived. ˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘ ˘ ˇ˚ ˘ ˘˝˙ˆ ˘ ˛˘˘˚ ˆ˙ ˘ˆ˛ ˘˘ ˛˝ ˛ ˛˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘• † ˘ ˇ˚ Mar 19, 2019 · Two dazzling 4-4-0 replicas nose to nose, just like in 1869 The 2,735-acre site — which is under consideration for national park status (more on that later) — covers more than ground zero for the transcontinental railroad. This act gave the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Central Pacific Railroad (CPRR) 6,400 acres of land and $16,000 in government bonds for each mile of track laid. 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. Railroad crews of the Union Pacific, 8,000 to 10,000 Irish, German, and Italian immigrants, had pushed west from Omaha, Nebraska. Transcontinental Railroad Story Map Spike 150 is an initiative of Utah’s Transcontinental Railroad 150th Celebration Commission. 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. May 10th, 2019 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad Grade. According to the book, "The Northern Pacific, Main Street Of The Northwest: A Pictorial History" by author and historian Charles R. Credit Shot during a railroad ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah, the image highlights the emotions and sense of fulfillment that the workers and engineers of the nation’s first transcontinental railway felt when they drove the last spike at the joining point of the tracks of the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad. Russell's "East and West Shaking Hands at Laying of Last Rail Travel back time and learn about key events surrounding the Transcontinental Railroad, from 1769 to 1889. Over the next seven years, the 1864: The American Continent. The Transcontinental Apr 17, 2021 · The First Transcontinental Railroad completely transformed the nation in 1869 when the Union and Central Pacific railroads joined together. Jan 29, 2008 · The First Transcontinental Railroad was built crossing the western half of America and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. May 10, 2019, marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the first North American transcontinental railroad. 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. One of the most iconic and life-altering events in the United States history — the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad — happened in Utah on May 10, 1869. Set your odometer to zero: mileages here are from the start of the backway. Joseph, Missouri that follows the Platte River, connects to the "Proposed Central Pacific R. Jul 3, 2024 · Rand McNally and Company. Aug 22, 2024 · Seen above is a route map of the first Transcontinental Railroad (not-to-scale), completed between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads. What many people don’t know is that Utahns played a major role with the transcontinental railroad through investment, surveying, and labor. D. Visitors to the park can see the location of the Last Spike Site, 1869 railroad construction features, walk or drive on the original railroad grade, and get an up close view of Victorian era replica locomotives. Utah History Encyclopedia, 1994. The West Auto Tour is the longer of the two scenic self-driving tours and allows visitors to see cuts, fills, and natural land formations. There are opportunities to leave the railroad grade and return to Highway 30. Many people said that building a single railroad that spanned the United States was impossible, but it was essential to expedite travel, communication, and business. Interactive Map Tour. The Central Pacific Railroad began laying track east from Sacramento in 1863. Raymond and Richard E. " near Great Salt Lake City, crosses the Sierras at Central Pacific Railroad Maps. Made 10/18/97 , just east of Lucin, UT. The major purpose of our Fall outing was to drive more than 90 miles of roadbed from the original Transcontinental Railroad, visiting historic sites along the way. 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 Utah Byways. There, on May 10, 1869, a golden railroad spike was driven into the ground to symbolize the new connection that now existed between the eastern and western United States. 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. Today, visit the Golden Spike National Historic Park to relive the history with exhibits and demonstrations, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Great Basin Desert and The completion of the first transcontinental railroad was celebrated in an official ceremony at the site where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific rail lines met in Utah. S. Map of the completed transcontinental route showing the land grants for both railroads. Congress passed the first Pacific Railway Act in 1862. Due to its unique history and scenic beauty, the Transcontinental Railroad Grade is a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern and is listed on the The Transcontinental Railroad Grade is a section of railway in northwest Utah, near Corinne, Utah, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Chang, Gordon H. Explore the tent city and later the town before it became a historic site. Learn more about the Chinese railroad workers and artifacts with Christopher Merritt, Ph. 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. Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad. May 14, 2019 · The ceremony that marked the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, as the Central Pacific and and Union Pacific railroads were joined at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869. The transcontinental railroad was the first rail line that allowed goods and people to move all the way between the Atlantic and the Pacific coast entirely by train. Rosa and Charles Lubrecht's map of the United States in 1864 shows numerous proposed railway lines. Complete this book. The town was established April 1, 1869, as a Central Pacific Railroad "division point" (operations base), on the route of the First transcontinental railroad and included a 16-stall roundhouse and an eight-track switchyard. Hippocrene Books, 1990. During the railroad’s construction, numerous temporary “hell on wheels” towns of tents and wooden shacks sprung up along the route to provide living The idea of creating a transcontinental rail link evolved at the same time as the concept of Manifest Destiny. Railroads already connected many of the larger cities in the east by the time the decision was made to link the East and West Coasts. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. The completion of the transcontinental rail line through Utah Territory in May 1869 was the beginning of a much larger story of railroads in Utah that has largely gone untold. " The Railroad Act of 1862 put government support behind the transcontinental railroad and helped create the Union Pacific Railroad, which subsequently joined with the Central Pacific at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869, and signaled the linking of the continent. The availability of low-cost transportation has as much to do with Utah’s economic success as the state’s ability to produce the goods being shipped. Date: circa 1870 Photography Key to Railroad The transcontinental railroad’s construction required financial backers, and the finished railroad would need customers. The Utah State Legislature and 3 days ago · The Linda Hall Library Transcontinental Railroad website was created with generous support from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Foundation. On that day, the dream of a transcontinental railroad became a reality when the railheads of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads finally met at Promontory Summit, Utah. Jan 27, 2003 · Film Description. Aug 13, 2023 · Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. The tour is easily accessed from Golden Spike Drive. Cedar City. Summary. GIS (shapefile) Aug 7, 2024 · One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century is the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. It includes both the little bit of the Union Pacific line in Golden Spike (see below) and the Central Pacific line. Viking Adult, 1999. Wood in the spring of 1853 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (who later became president of the Confederate States of America) dispatched survey crews west May 14, 2021 · WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in collaboration with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (Utah SHPO) celebrate the 152 nd anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point in Utah by announcing the availability of a self-guided audio tour that follows the 90-mile BLM-managed section of the Transcontinental Railroad Grade May 5, 2010 · The transcontinental railroad was completed May 10, 1869, in Promontory, Utah, when the Union Pacific Railroad of the East met the Central Pacific Railroad of the West. Finally, after years of grueling labor, the two sides met on May 10, 1869, in Promontory Utah. Transcontinental Railroad Aug 7, 2024 · Visitors to the park can see the location of the Last Spike Site, 1869 railroad construction features, walk or drive on the original railroad grade, and get an up close view of Victorian era replica locomotives. GIS (shapefile) Google Earth File (KMZ) Veterans Memorials – Utah’s Veterans Memorial locations. Utah Georeferenced PDF Maps BLM Utah Interactive Map. Transcontinental railroads in and near the United States by 1887. The trail is the actual grade where the railroad tracks were. The locomotive was not an invention of the Gilded Age . state of Utah other than the main line of the First 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). For a mapped index of available BLM Utah Georeferenced PDF maps, turn on the "GeoPDF Map Index" layer on the BLM Utah Interactive Map. The cropped image above is taken from a map entitled, “The Promontory Branch of the First Transcontinental Railroad in Utah, 1869 – 1904,” published in 1981 and republished in 1994, BLM Utah Cultural Resources Series #8 Rails East to Promontory, the Utah Stations by Anan S. 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 makers of Transcontinental Railroad traveled back and forth across the original route of the railroad, looking for locations, stories, and images. Railroad transcontinental 1869 britannica mfw golden citeA world transformed: the transcontinental railroad and utah Where was the transcontinental railroad completed?Railroad transcontinental trains updates utah. This route through public lands, also known as the Central Pacific Railroad Grade is a designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern administrated by the BLM 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. There are no ser-vices available along the route; be prepared with at least one spare tire, extra water, and gas if needed. The Utah Central Railroad was the first railroad in the U. Utah museums, colleges, university and community galleries, arts and cultural centers, libraries, and schools all register for the exhibitions annually. . In 1849, Howard Stansbury set out with the task to scout potential lines for a transcontinental railroad. Multiple contributors enrich the presentation. Apr 25, 2022 · As a result, President Lincoln signed into law the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862 (Briggs 1974:7). In 1800s America, some saw the railroad as a symbol of modernity and national progress. “In January 1865, convinced that Chinese workers were capable, the become a Railroad Explorer. Mar 7, 2022 · Promontory Point, Utah, is justly famous as the site where the eastward-building and westward-building parts of the Transcontinental Railroad were connected in 1869. The Pacific Railroad acts of 1862 and 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. the transcontinental railroad was completed and America was moving to the forefront Sep 4, 2019 · 4. It compressed a wagon journey that took over a month into just six days. Built by Mormons , it connected Salt Lake City to the transcontinental line at Ogden . Before the railroads arrived in Montana, Montana was a distant, desolate place, occupying the far northwestern region of the enormous Louisiana Purchase, which had only recently been explored for the first time by Lewis and Clark. This trail takes you along a section of the Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869. Most people know of the ceremony at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869, where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads joined and where a solid gold railroad spike became the symbol for the completion of the railroad. Both UP and CP leaders realized photography could be a vital tool to entice settlers and Golden Spike National Historical Park offers two opportunities to drive the transcontinental railroad grade and see just what workers were building in 1869. Plan a trip to one of Utah's many byways! Prepare yourself for history lessons, wildlife, vast scenery, mysterious formations and fun adventure. Jul 22, 2024 · History. After tackling the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and crossing the Great Basin, the railroad reached Utah in March 1869. The Transcontinental Railroad Backcountry Byway follows 90 miles of the Central Pacific Railroad Grade. 1883. yis pqfu plursx hlbdurod hdnc zpx zxpxb qyz keg gdvllud