First Transcontinental Railroad Groundbreaking Site - Old Sacramento, CA - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

Located at the junction of K and Front Streets on on the south face of the Central California Pacific Railroad Depot is a sign of history that reads:

First Transcontinental Railroad Groundbreaking Site

You are standing where the First Transcontinental Railroad in America had its western origin, at Front and K Streets in Sacramento.

On January 8, 1863, prominent citizens and railroad founders gathers here for a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. For over six years, thousands labored to connect the Central Pacific from the west with the Union Pacific Railroad from the east.

On May 10, 1869, the driving of the "Last Spike" at Promontory, Utah, signified the completion of one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, uniting the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts. The nation, still recovering from a divisive Civil War, celebrated with cannon and gun salutes and the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

For the first time in the history of the world and entire continent could be traversed in a matter of days, by both people and all types of goods.

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Group that erected the marker: California State Railroad Museum and California State Parks URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Junction of K Street and Front Street Saramento, CA

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