A World Transformed: The Transcontinental Railroad and Utah

The Transcontinental Railroad, was completed at a ceremony on May 10, 1869 and joined by a ceremonial golden spike at Promontory, Utah just 120 miles from Park City. 

Although Utahans invested in the railroad, assisted with surveying and provided labor not everyone was comfortable with the impending coast to coast rail. After all, Brigham Young and his followers made their way to this isolated territory in 1847 in hopes of practicing their religion without condemnation. Now, the more efficient rail system would not only bring more affordable manufactured goods but also a more diverse citizenship. 

Utahans weren't the only one's whose lives were dramatically changed by the completion of the railroad. The Native Americans were not silent by-standers and conflicts between the native tribes and the working crews led to an increased military presence in the west and the eventual forced removal of the Native peoples. 

Photographers traveled along the entire east and west routes documenting every step of the process. Andrew J. Russell, official Union Pacific photographer took the most iconic photo entitled 'The Champagne Photo'.

In addition to the photographs, the exhibit includes storyboards, watercolor sketches and display cases containing a piece of rail, a stake, chain links, a pin coupler and even a period beer bottle.

A temporary exhibit celebrating the event will be housed in Park City Museum’s Tozer Gallery from February 6 to March 17, 2020.  https://parkcityhistory.org/exhibits/transcontinental-railroad-utah/