"The Last Spike" ceremony

The Last Spike ceremony seen from the Jupiter train (public domain photo)

On April 10, 1869, the United States Congress informed the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad Companies that they would meet at Promontory Summit, a barren spot just north of the Promontory Range in Utah Territory. As soon as it was announced that the transcontinental railroad would be completed at Promontory Summit, plans for a ceremony celebrating the completion of that railroad were quickly made. The grand ceremony was carefully planned; it was during this planning staget that the concept of a golden spike and an elegant laurel tie were thought up. It was decided that these magnificent pieces of work would first be presented, and then laid and driven.

The event was originally scheduled for May 7, but rain storms in the Wasatch Range had damaged some of the Union Pacific's track, and it had to be repaired. Rain storms at Promontory Summit itself also delayed the proceedings. But on May 10, 1869, the sky was blue with a few small white clouds, the perfect day for the ceremony.

On that day, hundreds of people came to witness the completion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad. Reverend Dr. J. Todd initiated the ceremony with a prayer. After the prayer had ended, a Mr. Harkness, a journalist from Sacramento, presented the now world-famous gold spike to Leland Stanford, President of the Central Pacific Railroad Company and Governor of California, and said:

"Gentlemen of the Pacific Railroad...the last spike needed to unite the Atlantic and Pacific...is about to be driven to its place."

Following Harkness, Nevada resident F. A. Fryth presented a silver spike to Thomas Durant, President of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Following Fryth, Arizona Governor Anson Safford offered a spike made of iron and silver with a gold head and offered his sentiments.

Leland Stanford (public domain photo)

Stanford graciously accepted the spikes, saying, "Gentlemen, the Pacific Railroad Company accepts with pride and satisfaction these gold and silver tokens..." Stanford then announced that the last rail was going to be laid. The tie, made of California laurel, was put into place. These words were inscribed on it: "The last tie laid on the completion of the Pacific Railroad, May 10th, 1869."

Using a silver maul, Leland Stanford tried to drive in the last spike, but missed. Stanford allowed Thomas Durant to try to drive the last spike, but he missed as well. Both misses received their fair share of laughter from the crowd. The job was then passed down to the superintendent of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, J. H. Strobridge, who didn't miss. At 12:47 PM, the telegrapher tapped one four letter word: "DONE." With that, the nation's first transcontinental railroad was completed.