The placing of the Golden Spike was one of
the most iconic and life-altering events in America’s history. The completion
of the Transcontinental Railroad occurred in Northern Utah and this May will
mark the 150th anniversary of the event. Many exhibits and activities are
planned throughout the state in honor of this historic anniversary. On May
10-12, a big Sesquicentennial Celebration will be held at Promontory Summit,
the site where in 1869, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad crews
ended their race to connect the east and west.
The 150th birthday party, titled “Spike
150 Celebration Festival” will be held at the Golden Spike National Historic site
in Box Elder County, starting May 10 and will continue through May 12. Replica
steam train engines, music, performances, storytelling, historical
reenactments, train demonstrations, a frontier village, innovation summit, and
steam train demonstrations will be featured at the event.
“These celebratory events honor our shared
history and inspire us that great things are possible with vision, hard work,
and ingenuity, dedication, and collaboration,” said Doug Foxley, co-chair,
Spike 150 Commission. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend and
there is a $20 fee per vehicle to help offset the cost of the festival.
There are 150 different “Spike 150”
celebrations, activities, exhibits and events happening statewide, and many
will continue throughout the year. Train reenactments and steam demonstrations
run on a daily schedule from May to September at the Golden Spike National
Historic Site. There is even an opportunity to ride the Union Pacific’s
Heritage fleet cars that will be pulled by the world’s largest steam
locomotive. “This two-hour excursion from Ogden, Utah to Evanston, Wyoming,
will give about 80 passengers a glimpse of rail travel of the past,” said
Foxley. See www.spike150.org
for more details about the events offered statewide, or to purchase tickets for
the Spike 150 Celebration Festival.
