The California State Railroad Museum plans to debut an enhanced exhibit that will showcase and share stories of the of Chinese railroad workers who were instrumental in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Chinese Workers’ Experience Exhibit inside the Railroad Museum – Spring 2019 The California State Railroad Museum will redesign the Gold Spike exhibit areas so museum guests can enjoy a more interpretive and interactive exhibit experience. Thomas Hill’s painting illustrates the scene of the famous joining of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads. The spike was cast at the same time as the gold spike used at the Promontory Summit ceremony. The California State Railroad Museum is home to both the priceless “lost” Gold Spike and the famous “Last Spike” painting by Thomas Hill. ![]() Gold Spike Exhibit Redesign inside the Railroad Museum – Spring 2019 The map will debut on Apand will remain on public display through May 31, 2019. Theodore Judah was the first engineer to systematically explore the western Sierra Nevada mountains and map the route of the Central Pacific Railroad. Judah Map on Public Display inside the Railroad Museum – Debuts in April 2019įor six weeks in Spring 2019, visitors to the California State Railroad will have the unique opportunity to see the 66’ Judah Map in person – on loan from the California State Archives – that has never been on public display in its entirety. Information on events that are open to the public will follow at a later date. Working in collaboration with the HeritageRail Alliance, the California State Railroad Museum & Foundation are helping to coordinate a prestigious gathering of railroad operators, historians and supporters from throughout North America to visit Sacramento for an annual conference that is timed to help kick off the sesquicentennial celebration. HeritageRail Conference in Sacramento – April 25-27 To commemorate the important milestone in our nation’s history, the California State Railroad Museum & Foundation are proud to present and/or support the following events, activities and exhibits that culminate in May 2019 (while some have already begun, and others extend throughout the year). With plans in place and dignitaries already poised to participate on May 8, the city of Sacramento commemorated the completion in grand style two days before the rest of the nation did on May 10, 1869. The original completion date of was delayed by two days due in part to a labor dispute and a major storm. ![]() Approximately six years later, the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, when Stanford drove a ceremonial Gold Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah to officially connect the country. On January 8, 1863, then-governor Leland Stanford officially broke ground in Sacramento to begin construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. Sacramento played a pivotal role in the remarkable feat that ultimately took thousands of laborers – largely Chinese railroad workers – and multiple private railroad companies to complete. ![]() At the Railroad Museum, we are honored to do our part to interpret the complex history and share the stories of the people who lived, worked, and died in this tremendous endeavor.” It bound the United States at a fragile time and it has impacted every one of our lives. “It is a milestone of monumental importance. “The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad is not simply a railroad story, it is our story,” said Ty Smith, Museum Director of the California State Railroad Museum. It helped to connect the country, shape the nation, and put the United States on a path to economic prosperity. As history can attest, the completion of the 1,912-mile continuous railroad line was arguably the single greatest technological feat of the 19 th century. SACRAMENTO – In 2019, the California State Railroad Museum & Foundation are proud to present a series of exciting events, activities and exhibits to commemorate the 150 th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
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