Golden spike

The Golden Spike is a monument at the location where Leland Stanford drove the final rail spike of the First Transcontinental Railroad, connecting two rail lines. The site sits at 6,900 feet (2,100 meters) elevation in the mountains north of the Great Salt Lake and is open for visitor exploration today.

The ceremony took place on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit in Utah and marked the connection between the Central Pacific Railroad from California and the Union Pacific Railroad from Nebraska. This event was a turning point in American transportation history and made the first continuous rail line from coast to coast possible.

The event marked the completion of the first railroad connecting the continental United States and changed how people and goods traveled across the nation. This connection made it possible for freight and passengers to move between the East and West coasts much faster than before.

The site is easy to reach by car and has ample parking for visitors. Walking trails and orientation paths guide you around the area with views of the surrounding mountains and the historic railroad routes.

The original golden spike disappeared from public view and is now kept in a museum at Stanford University. This means visitors see only a replica here, but they stand at the exact location where this pivotal moment in American history occurred.

Location: Utah

GPS coordinates: 41.61796,-112.55163

Latest update: December 20, 2025 19:40