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On This Day: Transcontinental Railroad

From 1862 through 1869, the transcontinental railroad was constructed, connecting the eastern part of the United States with the west. This united the country, allowed resources to be shared and improved transportation. On May 10, 1869, the golden spike was struck, completing construction on the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, UT. View the following videos to learn more about this event.

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History of the Transcontinental Railroad

Park Ranger David Kilton, Golden Spike National Historic Site, talks about the history and impact of the Transcontinental Railroad. ** This clip is part of C-SPAN Classroom's FREE resources for teachers and students. Visit www.c-spanclassroom.org for more info. **

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