Which organizations built the transcontinental railroad

In , a New York Times reporter experienced the ultimate in luxury—and he did so not in the parlor of a Gilded Age magnate, but on a train headed from Omaha, Nebraska to San Francisco, They toiled through back-breaking labor during both frigid winters and blazing summers. Hundreds died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease. And even though they made major contributions to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, these 15, to 20, The Underground Railroad was a network of people, African American as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped enslaved people from the South.

It developed as a convergence of several different clandestine efforts. The exact dates of its existence are not known, but it They sold or gave shares in this Liverpool and Manchester Railway The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in September marked the dawn of steam-powered rail travel. Prior to its construction, most railways were horse-drawn and used to haul freight such as coal over short distances.

Today many Americans see Labor Day as time off from work, an opportunity to enjoy a barbecue with friends and family and a final moment of summertime relaxation before the busy fall season begins. But the history behind the Labor Day holiday is far more complex and dramatic than Labor Day will occur on Monday, September 6.

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Included in the collection are Alfred A. Hart photographs commissioned by Leland Stanford, railroad maps from the David Rumsey Map Center and oral histories of Chinese railroad worker families.

The performance will take place in Bing Concert Hall on Nov. Oriana Skylar Mastro has built two careers simultaneously: one as an academic, the other, as a service member in the U. Air Force. To commemorate Veterans Day, wreaths will be placed in Memorial Court and Memorial Auditorium, along with a letter from President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, to honor members of the university community who have served or are serving in the U.

Armed Forces. On the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, Stanford scholar Laura Wittman reflects on how the historic monument came to be a widespread symbol for public grief and mourning. Stanford News is a publication of Stanford University Communications. Stanford , California Skip to content. Menu Search form Search term. May 8, First Transcontinental Railroad and Stanford forever linked One hundred and fifty years ago on May 10, , university founder Leland Stanford drove the last spike that marked the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

Facebook Twitter Email. By Kate Chesley Just about every California school kid knows the story of the First Transcontinental Railroad, which connected the Eastern Seaboard with the Pacific Coast and was completed years ago this week.

Whither the Gold Spike? Campus Life. What to read next:. Most of them were Chinese workers who were paid less for their labor than their European counterparts.

Chinese migrants worked in the Sierra foothills for the Central Pacific Railroad. For years, railroad workers were largely overlooked in memorial events marking the railroad's completion.

This year, however, their contributions and descendents are more visible than ever in th anniversary celebrations. Read More. The anniversary was an occasion to commemorate "the contribution and sacrifices of the railroad workers," including the estimated 12,, Chinese laborers "who risked everything to make the Transcontinental Railroad a reality," Chao said. Before the transatlantic railroad, train travel was available from points east to as far as St. Louis, Missouri. An architect and civil engineer, Brown designed the snow sheds and bridges of the Central Pacific line.

BNSF rail lines cover the western two-thirds of the U. Baird in near Santa Cruz, California, California Powder Works produced explosives for mining and civil engineering projects. Grenville Dodge hired Casement and his brother Daniel to lead the construction of the Union Pacific line. Central Pacific Railroad : Railroad company incorporated in to complete the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to Utah. Civil War, United States : War fought between 25 northern states and 11 southern, slave-holding states that seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America.

After four years of bitter fighting, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, , ending the war and reuniting the country. Following the conflict, the federal government imposed political and economic reforms on the southern states to rebuild and reintegrate the region into the Union.

Known as the Reconstruction Era, the policies were in place until when Rutherford B. Hayes became the 19th U. Lewis M. Following the completion of the transcontinental line, Clement worked for the Southern Pacific Railway, building rail lines throughout the western U.

Peter Cooper : New York inventor who in built the first steam locomotive in the U. A successful Sacramento businessman, Crocker moved to California from his native Indiana in Governor Leland Stanford appointed Crocker a state supreme court justice in A year later, his brother, Charles, convinced Judge Crocker to leave the bench to work for the Central Pacific.

He resigned his position as legal counsel after suffering a stroke in Judge Crocker spent the remaining years of his life traveling and collecting artwork. Peter A. Dey : Railroad engineer who surveyed the Union Pacific route from to He became chief engineer of the Union Pacific, resigning in because of disagreements with Thomas Durant over the handling of business dealings.

In , Dowd published a pamphlet that proposed dividing the country into four time zones with the eastern most zone set as standard time, with each zone, moving west, one hour earlier than standard time. John Dix : Governor, U.