Golden Spike National Historical Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden Spike National Historical Park |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
|
|
Replicas of the Central Pacific Jupiter and Union Pacific No. 119 locomotives at the Golden Spike National Historical Park
|
|
 Golden Spike National Historical Park
Location in Utah
Golden Spike National Historical Park
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Box Elder County, Utah United States |
| Nearest city | Corinne |
| Area | 2,735 acres (11.07 km2) |
| Established | April 2, 1957 |
| Visitors | 40,156 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Golden Spike National Historical Park |
Golden Spike National Historical Park is a special place in Utah, United States. It's located in Box Elder County, north of the Great Salt Lake. The closest town is Corinne, about 23 miles (37 km) away.
This park celebrates a super important moment in American history. It's where the first Transcontinental Railroad was finished! On May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad finally met. This connected the East and West coasts of the United States by train. The very last rail was joined by driving a special, ceremonial Golden Spike.
What You'll See at the Park
The Golden Spike National Historical Park covers about 2,735 acres. When it first started in 1957, it was only 7 acres. Over time, more land was added. This included a long strip of land, about 15.5 miles (25 km) long, where the old railroad tracks used to be.
Besides the main spot where the rails met, the park also has other interesting areas. These include places where workers camped and where parts of the railroad were built. You can also see where the Central Pacific Railroad set a record. They laid "Ten miles of track in one day!" There's also the site of the "Big Fill" and "Big Trestle."
Even though the original rails were taken away in 1942 to help with the war effort, the park has rebuilt about 2 miles (3.2 km) of track. This rebuilt track looks just like the original rails from 1869. It helps visitors imagine what it was like back then.
Many people visit the park each year. In 2002, nearly 50,000 visitors came to see this historic site.
How the Park Was Created
The very first monument at the site was a concrete tower. It was built around 1916 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. You can still see it near the Visitor's Center today.
A woman named Bernice Gibbs Anderson was key to making this site a national park. She started writing articles about local history in 1926. Bernice believed this spot was super important. She felt it should be saved as a memorial to the Transcontinental Railroad.
Bernice led a group called the Golden Spike Association. They held the first re-enactment of the joining of the rails on May 10, 1952. Local volunteers helped bring this historical moment to life. Bernice worked tirelessly, writing to government officials. She urged them to create a monument at Promontory Summit.
Because of her efforts, the site was officially recognized as a National Historic Site on April 2, 1957. At first, local groups helped take care of it. Then, in 1965, the U.S. Congress decided the government should own and manage it.
In 2019, the site was renamed. It became the Golden Spike National Historical Park. Historic sites are usually just one building. Historical parks, however, include many important landmarks in a larger area. This new name better describes all the important places within the park.
Celebrating Big Anniversaries
On May 10, 1969, a huge celebration took place. It was the 100th anniversary of the railroad's completion. About 28,000 visitors came! Bernice Gibbs Anderson was there too. Two real locomotives, the Genoa and the Inyo, were brought in for the ceremony. They helped recreate the famous moment. That year, the railroad grade was also named a National Civil Engineering Landmark.
In 1979, the park got working replicas of the famous locomotives, the Jupiter and No. 119. These are the trains that met at the Golden Spike ceremony. They arrived just in time for the 110th anniversary!
In 2006, a natural rock formation in the park was renamed. It used to be called Chinaman's Arch. It was named to honor the Chinese railroad workers who helped build the railroad. To be more respectful, it was officially renamed the Chinese Arch.
On May 10, 2019, another big celebration happened. This was for the 150th anniversary of the railroad's completion. Many important leaders attended this special event.
Gallery
-
Park sign (photographed in 2018)
-
28,000 visitors attended the centennial celebration (1969)
-
Re-enacting the driving of the Golden Spike (1969)
-
Replicas of No. 119 and Jupiter at (the then named) Golden Spike National Historic Site (2006)
-
Recreations of the Golden Spike ceremony are performed on a seasonal schedule; this one was in May 2012.
-
Visitor's Center (2016)
-
Plaque to honor the Chinese railroad workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad.
-
Southern Pacific Monument (2016)
-
Chinese Arch (2016)
.jpg)
