Fun Fact May 10, 2021.

On May 10, 1869, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail line that connects their railroads.  According to History dot com this made transcontinental railroad travel possible for the first time in U.S. history. No longer would western-bound travelers need to take the long and dangerous journey by wagon train.  The need for such a connection had been dreamed of since the early 1800’s, but it wasn’t until after the Civil War, in 1862, that congress was able to agree on funding for the project.  Despite harsh weather, both in summer and winter, lawlessness and the untamed land, Union Pacific and Central Pacific workers were able to lay over 2000 miles of track by 1869 ahead of schedule and under budget.  The trip that at one time took weeks, and in some cases months, now took only days.

Fun Fact May 10, 2021.
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