Lincoln and the transcontinental railroad

[David Lockmiller]

"Cheers greet trains as thousands gather to mark 150th anniversary of transcontinental railroad"

Desert News ByAmy Joi O'Donoghue
Published: May 10, 2019

PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Box Elder — Cheers went up and the crowd whistled loudly as Jupiter and No. 119 met Friday at Promontory Summit to kick off the 150th anniversary of the wedding of the rails back on May 10, 1869.

The wind was brisk and cold, but it did not deter the thousands of people who waited in long lines to get into the Golden Spike National Historical Park, where the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad met as one to transform a nation reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War.

On this day, as it was 150 years ago, there was a blending of cultures and history as people from many faiths and ethnic backgrounds came together with a singular cause.

"The transcontinental railroad is the story of America, for better or worse," said keynote speaker Jon Meacham, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

The idea to build a transcontinental railroad during an era of Civil War destruction came from the commander-in-chief, President Abraham Lincoln, who was buffeted by the war's horrors and divisiveness, the historian noted.

Still, the country persevered — which should serve as a lesson today when narcissistic pundits like to stress that modern America is going through its worst times now, Meacham said.

"I would rather be dealing with Facebook over Fort Sumter, wouldn't you?"

The crowds roared in response to his speech and later hooted and hollered when the re-enactment of the driving of the last spike was portrayed by actors.

Organizers of Spike 150 said an estimated 16,000 people walked into the park on Friday — all trying to get to the same patch of ground where history was made. More than 80 media organizations were credentialed to cover the event, with 200-plus individuals from countries ranging from Switzerland, China and Germany.

Those in the crowd came from everywhere as well.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert called the driving of the spike 150 years ago "the world's first mass media event," because it was carried live via the telegraph to places like Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

There were 6,000 to 7,000 people gathered at Tabernacle Square alone, he added.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said the completion of the transcontinental railroad monumentally changed the country.

"It is that century's moon landing," he said, noting now that the historic site is a national historical park.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao also delivered remarks.

Friday's event marked the first time the Irish ambassador to the United States, Dan Mulhall, visited Utah, where he delivered the celebratory toast to honor the laborers on the railroad.

More than 10,000 of them were Irish.

Noting the thousands of Chinese laborers, Mulhall said many of those names are largely absent from the historical record. It was his honor, he added, to toast the memory of all the workers.

"I salute all of those workers from many lands who built this railroad," he said, raising a glass.

Throughout the day, people in period costume ambled among the guests, including Beau Burgess, curator of the Fort Douglas Military Museum. Burgess was playing Gen. Patrick Connor, a County Kerry, Ireland, native who established Fort Douglas, or Camp Douglas as it was known then, in Salt Lake City in 1862.

Those lucky enough to get a front seat to the ceremony complained loudly, yelling at times, at members of the media for getting “in the way” while filming or photographing the ceremony. A small but especially vocal crowd yelled so loudly and collectively it caught the attention of the speakers on stage who paused, unsure what to do.