America 250: Transcontinental Railroad

Built betwixt 1863 and 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad linked the East and West, slashing cross-country question clip and driving economical growth.

The Transcontinental Railroad, primitively called the Pacific Railroad, was built betwixt 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. It became the archetypal continuous obstruction enactment connecting the eastbound and occidental United States. The enactment was completed connected May 10, 1869, astatine Promontory Summit, Utah, wherever the ceremonial “Golden Spike” was driven. The railroad dramatically reduced cross-country question time, allowing passengers and goods to question betwixt New York and San Francisco successful astir a week. Thousands of Chinese migrant laborers played a important relation successful gathering the occidental information of the enactment nether harsh and unsafe conditions. The railroad helped thrust economical maturation and accelerated colony and enlargement successful the American West.