John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints

Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah

I haven't visited Golden Spike NHS. The information on this page was originally kindly supplied by Major Jim Collins of the USAF, and revised so as to bring it up to date in October 2007 by Marsha Barrett, Park Guide, Golden Spike National Historic Site. My grateful thanks is extended to both Jim and Marsha.

Golden Spike National Historic Site is to be found at Promontory Summit. It is the location where the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1865. It is also known, incorrectly, as "Promontory Point". The "Golden Spike" was presented here on May 10th 1869 during the ceremony completing the railroad.

In actuality both companies, the Union Pacific from Omaha and the Southern Pacific from Sacramento, were building track past each other, as the government contract did not specify that the companies must join their tracks. Both companies were not anxious to do this as they were obtaining rights to the land on their respective rights-of-way, to be sold later. Congress intervened and selected Promontory Summit, Utah as the "official" point where the railroads would be joined.

The location is about 30 miles west of Brigham City. It is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, with a visitor's center open from 9am to 5pm, reproductions of the steam locomotives used in the ceremony (they run May to Labor Day), and re-enactments (from 10-May to Labor Day). Check www.nps.gov/gosp for schedule changes.

Much of the original roadbed and trestles are visible from the highway on your way to the National Historic Site.

Also, two self-guided driving tours are available that follow a portion of the original roadbed with stops at various points on a 10-15 mile tour. (The roadbed tours are not open during the winter, for obvious reasons).