PBS
Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Theodore Dehone Judah
The prophet of the transcontinental railroad did not live to see it built. Yet his scouting, surveying, lobbying, and fundraising efforts defined the route and prepared the way for the technology that would unite a nation.
PBS
Pbs: Who Made America? Theodore Dehone Judah
Judah died on a trip to New York, contracting yellow fever on his voyage through Panama. A transcontinental railroad, had it existed, would have spared his life.
PBS
New Perspectives on the West: Promontory Point, Utah
A map and brief description of the events at Promontory Point, Utah where the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads joined to make the first transcontinental railroad.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr Photographic History Museum: Driving the Last Spike at Promontory, 1869
In-depth look at the ceremony at Promontory Point upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The author discusses the preparation for the ceremony, the use of four ceremonial spikes, and what became of them. From an article in...
PBS
New Perspectives on the West: The Sierra Nevadas
A brief description and map of Sierra Nevada Mountains. Describes the struggle of Charles Crocker to build the transcontinental railroad through the Sierra Nevadas.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: Conquest of the American West
This PowerPoint presentation will thoroughly illustrate the significant role the transcontinental railroad played in the economic and cultural development of the nation as it expanded west. What did the political leadership of the nation...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Other Transcontinentals
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the other railroad companies that were competing to build a transcontinental line.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr Photographic History Museum: Fusang: The Chinese Who Built America
Provides excerpts from "Fusang: The Chinese Who Built America: The Chinese Railroad Men" by Stan Steiner. Describes how the Chinese contributed to the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
Other
Texas Bird's Eye Views: Riding the Rails Across Texas
For this lesson, students will discover the benefits and drawbacks of railroads and understand the railroad's importance to Texas cities and American life.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum: Beyond the Mississippi
Contains excerpts from Albert D. Richarson's "Beyond the Mississippi" about the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad and his trip on the train.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Golden Spike National Park: The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862
Short description of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 from the National Park Service.
Other
Colorado Historical Society: Chin Lin Sou, Chinese Railroad Laborer [Pdf]
Find out about a Chinese immigrant who, after laboring on the Central Pacific Railroad, became a wealthy miner in Colorado. From the Colorado Historical Society.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
PBS
Pbs the West: The Pacific Railway Act: July 1, 1862
The critically acclaimed PBS series, "The West," provides the text of the actual Pacific Railway Act, designed to aid in the construction of a Railroad and Telegraph Line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean.
Stanford University
Stanford University Library: Hart Project
Explore the collection of 364 photographs which are plotted within this 3-D map experience recreating Alfred A. Hart's journey along the Central Pacific Railroad. The goal of his 1860s expedition was to solicit investment in the...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Carbutt and the Union Pacific's Grand Excursion
Provides information on the Union Pacific Railroad's grand excursion to the 100th Meridian.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway is the largest and longest railway in Canada. An in-depth profile of the company and its history are included on this website, as well as the CNR today. Also looks at the different kinds of trains, cars, and...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Central Pacific and Union Pacific
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the competition between Union Pacific and Central Pacific to complete the transcontinental railroad. Workmanship was often shoddy and...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr Photographic History Museum: The Postal History of the Pacific Railroad
This site deals mostly with the history of mail sent across the country in the late 19th century.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Iron Road
A good summary of the history of the building of first transcontinental railroad and images of the transcontinental railroad. From the introduction to the PBS video, The Iron Road.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Surveys
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the surveys that were done to determine where to route the transcontinental railroad, and where it was finally built. These surveys provide...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Golden Spike National Historic Site
Homepage of the Golden Spike National Historic Site. Provides general information about the completion of the transcontinental railroad and contains links to other information.
Country Studies US
Countyr Studies: United States History: The Last Frontier
This site describes the settlement of the West happened quickly with the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862 and the push for the Transcontinental Railroad. With the explosion of the mining and ranching industries, the West was all but...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr History Museum: The First Rail Laid
This site from the Central Pacific Railroad contains an article from the Sacramento Daily Union on the first rail laid on the western end of the transcontinental railroad on October 27, 1863.