The Transcontinental Railroad
began outside of Omaha Nebraska in a town called Council Bluffs with
the Union Pacific. It also started in Sacramento and went eastward
with the Central Pacific. The race was on! The two met in Promontory
Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869 in the golden spike ceremony.
The Golden Spike is on
display at Stanford University. When
Leland Stanford went to hit it, he swung and missed. Oops.