NEWS RELEASES
Utah Celebrates Driving Of The Golden Spike During May
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Box Elder County's website.
On May 10, 1869, in a remote corner of northern Utah, a ceremonial golden spike joined the rails of the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad, creating the first Transcontinental Railroad. Connecting the East and West coasts of the United by railroad, the event changed the face of the United States. During the month of May, 2019, the state of Utah will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of this event with statewide celebrations, including a three-day festival, May 10-12, at the Golden Spike National Historical Park, located about a two-hour drive north of Salt Lake City.
The Sesquicentennial Celebration kicks off in nearby Box Elder County on May 4 with a horse and wagon parade in Brigham City, featuring entries from each of Utah’s 29 counties, followed by a free hoedown at the County Fairgrounds. Other events scheduled include museum exhibits, 10-minute operas, theater performances, a stagecoach conference and wagon trail tours, plus railroad exhibits and steam train excursions.
For a complete list of planned activities, visit the Spike150 website.