Railroad executive and former California Governor Leland Stanford drives the "Golden Spike" into the rail at Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory, completing the first American Transcontinental Railroad. The merging of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads linked the Atlantic and Pacific coasts by rail for the first time.
For over 75 years, American Heritage has chronicled our nation's history like no other publication. Please support our trusted, non-partisan historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today. We rely on contributions from readers like you to survive. Donate
