Thousand Mile Tree facts for kids
The Thousand Mile Tree is a special pine tree located in Weber Canyon, near Henefer, Utah. It stands along the Overland Route of the Union Pacific Railroad. This tree got its name because it was found exactly 1,000 miles (about 1,609 kilometers) west of Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Iowa. Omaha was the starting point for the western part of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
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The Original Thousand Mile Tree
In January 1869, workers building the Union Pacific Railroad found the first Thousand Mile Tree. It was a tall pine tree, about 90 feet (27 m) high. It stood right next to the tracks they were laying. This spot was in a place called Wilhelmina's Pass, next to the Weber River.
The tree was exactly 1,000 miles from Omaha. Soon after, a sign was hung on the tree to show this important distance.
A Famous Landmark
The Thousand Mile Tree quickly became a famous sight. It was located in a deep gorge between Henefer and Devil's Slide. Devil's Slide is a unique rock formation with two tall limestone ridges.
Many early trains would stop so passengers could see the tree and Devil's Slide. A. J. Russell, the official photographer for the Union Pacific, took many pictures of this area. People even took special train trips from Ogden just to see these landmarks.
A New Tree for a New Time
By the year 1900, the original Thousand Mile Tree had died. It was removed in September of that year. Over time, changes to the railroad line meant the spot was no longer exactly 1,000 miles from Omaha. It became about 959.66 miles (1,544.42 km) away.
However, the Union Pacific Railroad did not forget the tree's history. In 1982, they planted a new tree to remember the original spot. This new tree stands today in a special fenced area along the old railroad line. It has grown to be over 30 feet (9.1 m) tall.
The Tree in Art
In 2016, a drawing of the "Thousand Mile Tree" by artist Jim Stitt was featured on a special beer label. It was for the 42nd annual "Our Special Ale" brewed by Anchor Brewing.
