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=== Background === | === Background === | ||
The section of railroad built between 1868 and 1869 from Omaha, Nebraska on the east to Sacramento, California on the west has become known as the First Transcontinental Railroad. The eastern segment was built by the Union Pacific Railroad company. At the same time the Central Pacific Railroad was building the western line. The two lines met at Pronontory Point, Utah, on May 10, 1869, where a connecting spike was driven. | The section of railroad built between 1868 and 1869 from Omaha, Nebraska on the east to Sacramento, California on the west has become known as the First Transcontinental Railroad. The eastern segment was built by the [[Union_Pacific_Railroad|Union Pacific Railroad]] company. At the same time the [[Central_Pacific_Railroad|Central Pacific Railroad]] was building the western line. The two lines met at Pronontory Point, Utah, on May 10, 1869, where a connecting spike was driven. | ||
The transcontinental railroad was first seriously considered by the United States government in the late 1840s after gold was discovered in California. They saw it as a way to bridge the distance between the east and west coasts, and to open up Western lands for settlement. Though the project appealed to both government and comercial entities, as well as the private sector, it was delayed by a number of issues. These included financing, where to run the route, and who would build it for starters. Then in the early 1860s the whole project was put on hold until the Civil War ended in 1865. | The transcontinental railroad was first seriously considered by the United States government in the late 1840s after gold was discovered in California. They saw it as a way to bridge the distance between the east and west coasts, and to open up Western lands for settlement. Though the project appealed to both government and comercial entities, as well as the private sector, it was delayed by a number of issues. These included financing, where to run the route, and who would build it for starters. Then in the early 1860s the whole project was put on hold until the Civil War ended in 1865. | ||
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*[http://tigger.uic.edu/~rjensen/railroad.htm Railroad History ]by Richard Jensen, Research Professor of History, Montana State University, Billings. This site contains a bibliography of books relating to railroads in the United States. It also includes links to websites where the books can be purchased. | *[http://tigger.uic.edu/~rjensen/railroad.htm Railroad History ]by Richard Jensen, Research Professor of History, Montana State University, Billings. This site contains a bibliography of books relating to railroads in the United States. It also includes links to websites where the books can be purchased. | ||
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