Contents

ORIGIN OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD

a. Early Sentiment
b. Organization of the Central Pacific
c. Railroad Act of 1862
d. Organization of the Union Pacific
e. Railroad Act of 1864

BUILDING THE PACIFIC RAILROAD

a. The Builders
b. The Construction Companies
c. Methods of Construction
d. Progress of the Central Pacific
e. Progress of the Union Pacific

THE DASH TO PROMONTORY

a. The Great Railroad Race
b. Climbing the Promontory
c. The Last Month
d. Driving the Last Spike
e. Promontory After May 10, 1869

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD

a. Administration

For additional information, visit the Web site for
Golden Spike National Historic Site

Historical Handbook Number Forty
1969

This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., 20402, Price 60 cents

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Walter J. Hickel, Secretary

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
George B. Hartzog, Jr., Director