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First Transcontinental Railroad
Posted by:
heringermr
N 38° 35.067 W 121° 30.239
10S E 630300 N 4271724
California Registered Historical Landmark #780
Waymark Code: WM2MM6
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 11/21/2007
Views: 60
Here, on January 8, 1863, Governor Leland Stanford turned the first spade of earth to begin construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. After more than six years of labor, crews of the Central Pacific Railroad from the west and the Union Pacific Railroad from the east met at Promontory, Utah where, on May 10, 1869, Stanford drove the gold spike signifying completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The Central Pacific Railroad, forerunner of the Southern Pacific Company, was planned by Theodore D. Judah and constructed largely through the efforts of the 'Big Four'-Sacramento businessmen Leland Stanford, Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, and Mark Hopkins.
Marker Number: 780.00
![](/images/spacer.gif) Marker Name: FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD
![](/images/spacer.gif) County: Sacramento
![](/images/spacer.gif) Has Official CA Plaque: yes
![](/images/spacer.gif) Marker Dedication Date: 01/08/1963
![](/images/spacer.gif) Location: Old Sacramento State Historic Park, Sacramento, California State Railroad Museum, rear lounge area
![](/images/spacer.gif) Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Feel free to post a picture of you at the landmark site, but a photo is not required to log a visit.