The first transcontinental railroad joined at Promontory Summit in Utah on May 10, 1869. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met there in the famous “Golden Spike” ceremony.
The Central Pacific built eastward from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built westward from the Missouri River region. Their meeting created a continuous rail route between the established eastern network and the Pacific coast, dramatically reducing travel time across the continent.
Promontory Summit is often confused with Promontory Point, a different location farther south. The original railroad alignment crossed at the summit, while later tracks used the Lucin Cutoff near Promontory Point. The ceremony’s final spike was actually called the “Last Spike,” though “Golden Spike” became the familiar name.