Transcontinental railroad map
Transcontinental railroad map. New map of the Union Pacific Railway. This layer is part of the Railroads and the Making of Modern America project. Judah returns to Washington armed with maps and profiles to lobby for appropriations Determining the route of the first-ever transcontinental railroad is not an easy feat and in the mid-1800s, it probably seemed impossible to many: enter dreamers like Asa Whitney and Theodore Judah (nicknamed "Crazy Judah") to begin mapping proposed rail lines through treacherous landscapes such as the Sierra Nevada mountain range. , 1964- Collector: Thomas, William G. Congress and conducted by the U. The Kansas–Nebraska Act was intended to open up new lands to develop and facilitate the construction of the transcontinental railroad, however it effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Mar 20, 2001 · The idea of a railroad that went from the east coast to the west didn’t start when building began. The Transcontinental Railroad Backcountry Byway follows 90 miles of the Central Pacific Railroad Grade. The maps presented here are a selection from the Geography and Map Division holdings, based on the popular cartobibliography, Railroad Maps of the United States: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of Original 19th Read the Introduction to "Railroad Maps of the United States: A Selective Annotated Bibliography of Original 19th-century Maps in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress. Co. Wood in the spring of 1853 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (who later became president of the Confederate States of America) dispatched survey crews west By the time President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act in 1862 to establish federal support for the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, there was no question that a railway would help people and goods traveling west do so more quickly and safely, with the added benefit of nationwide geographic and economic growth as new towns Aug 7, 2024 · One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century is the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. , 1975. Browse a photo gallery of settlers, Native Americans, and workers whose lives were affected by the railroad as it traversed the West. Jan 29, 2008 · The Transcontinental Railroad was also known as the Pacific Railroad for a while and later on as the Overland Route — after the main passenger transport service that operated the line. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers to map potential routes for the Transcontinental Railroad. Sep 2, 2015 · Map of the Great Transcontinental Railroad. It highlights materials from the Stanford Libraries including pictures from the Alfred A. The map of the Pacific Railroad Surveys would be published in 1855. " by Andrew M. ” The map is an 1856 printed map which was annotated to show the location of the railroad tracks in Utah. in 1869. , and Omaha, Neb. However, the transcontinental railroad helped to bring about the end of the traditional way of life for many Native Americans. The idea of building such a line was present in America for decades before the construction was authorized by the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1862 and 1864. Our nation felt many benefits including faster travel time, a greater cultural connection coast to coast, a powerful economy, and many more settlements and markets in the west. See how the railroad winds throughout the West in this map from the pages of Trains Magazine. Transcontinental Railroad Learn more about the Transcontinental Railroad and see sites, the Travelstorys audio tour will guide visitors down 90 miles of original hand-constructed Transcontinental Railroad grade, managed as a National Backcountry Byway and located west of the Golden Spike National Historic Park. On January 1, 1863, ground was broken at Sacramento, California for the building of the first transcontinental railroad; the Central Pacific from Sacramento and the Union Pacific from Omaha Nebraska (Elliot 1928:2). 1865 Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress May 10, 2019 · According to the Chinese Railroad Workers Project, Central Pacific started with a crew of 21 Chinese workers in January 1864. The Linda Hall Library Transcontinental Railroad website was created with generous support from the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Foundation. There are opportunities to leave the railroad grade and return to Highway 30. Geography & Map Division. The full path of the Transcontinental Railroad, once complete, eventually measured about 1,907 miles long and cut through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. " [Enlarge Western Portion of Map] Rand, McNally & Co. According to the book, "The Northern Pacific, Main Street Of The Northwest: A Pictorial History" by author and historian Charles R. Publication date [1875?] Topics californialightandsound, californiapreservationservice, Railroads, 1870-1879 Language Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. ] San Francisco to Chicago via the CPRR, UPRR, & Burlington Route, A. The transcontinental railroad map in the latter half of the 19th century was typically built with substantial infusions of federal, state, and government Map of the Sacramento Valley Railroad. Completed in 1869 with the driving of the famous "Golden Spike" at Promontory Summit, Utah, the Transcontinental Railroad revolutionized transportation across the United States and fundamentally changed the American West, sparking social, economic, environmental, and political change. , 1964- Description: This line shapefile represents the railroad network of the United States in 1840. Apr 10, 2019 · Union Pacific operates along much of the original Transcontinental Railroad route between Sacramento, Calif. 6 days ago · History. Alfred A. Published by the Union Pacific Railroad, circa 1857. A transcontinental railroad would allow for settlement of the west, open new markets for eastern manufacturers, and bring relief to overcrowded eastern cities. Some desired it, some built it, and some did everything in their power to stop it. The data used in compiling twenty-two large individual maps published with the thirteen handsomely illustrated volumes of the Pacific Railroad Surveys,[15]for example, was the basic source material for Lt. Three events—the enactment of the Homestead Act, the authorization of the first transcontinental railroad, and the end of the Civil War—set in motion a frenzy of changes in American life. Hart Photographer. 8” Photograph shows Chinese railroad worker with a shoulder pole. People worldwide can now view the route Theodore Judah proposed for the Central Pacific Railroad branch of the First Transcontinental Railroad, thanks to the efforts of the David Rumsey Map Center Map of Transcontinental Railroad Lines, 1880s Soon after the railroad made its appearance in the U. A. Jun 11, 2024 · Today, there are several ways to experience Canadian Pacific Railway routes. Before there were viral videos and trending hashtags, the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 was one of the first mass media events in US hi May 4, 2019 · Homesteads to Modern Cities is the second part of this two-part exhibition and resumes the story of America Transformed in the early 1860s. 1876; 1881 Litho. Sep 23, 2022 · This culminated in the completion of the first transcontinental railroad by 1869, which ended in Sacramento, California. Technology May 8, 2019 · One significant holding related to the Transcontinental Railroad is a single map, located with Record Group (RG) 77, the Civil Works Map File, which shows “Correct Location of the Pacific Railroad. Central Pacific Railroad construction in the 1860's. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union Nov 24, 2009 · The Transcontinental Railroad unified the United States. in the 1830s, Americans dreamed of linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by rail. Cooper Collection. Williams' map was printed 8 years after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Note how UP was much larger thanks to the easier topography it was able to navigate between Promontory Summit, Utah and Omaha, Nebraska. Lloyd and Rae Smith, 1859. additional transcontinental railroad maps: [ Click on a map to enlarge, or choose a linked map. " With Warren's map the… The idea of creating a transcontinental rail link evolved at the same time as the concept of Manifest Destiny. Maps of current Amtrak passenger routes from Chicago to the West Coast, each available through a link from the Feb 6, 2022 · The Central Pacific Railroad Company started construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in Sacramento, California, while the Union Pacific Railroad Company started near the Iowa-Nebraska border. Colonization of California exploded in the late 1840s with the discovery of gold ("Transcontinental railroad", 2010). There are no ser-vices available along the route; be prepared with at least one spare tire, extra water, and gas if needed. Emigrants traveling by horseback, wagon, or foot required several months to cross the plains and the Rocky Mountains. In addition to transporting western food crops and raw materials to East Coast markets and This illustration comes from the United States Pacific Railroad Surveys, which were commissioned by the U. It's a once-in-a-lifetime train journey that's as unspoiled and timeless as it was in 1886. The First Transcontinental Railroad in North America was built in the 1860s, linking the well developed railway network of the East coast with rapidly growing California. Apr 10, 2019 · See how the original Transcontinental Railroad looks today on a map with current cities, highways, and railroads. The transcontinental railroad was hailed as a symbol of national pride, and Americans today still largely look back at this history fondly. The completion of construction of Canada's first transcontinental railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) on November 7, 1885, preceded a tremendous economic expansion and immigration boom in western Canada during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but Nov 27, 2022 · Connecting the continent was proposed for improved mail and connectivity with the frontier (“The Transcontinental Railroad. Library of Congress, Washington, D. See maps and diagrams of the rail networks and their connections. 1883. An alternate route to the south of the pass joined the main line at the Salmon River and continued to Puget Sound. " Judah, as Chief Engineer of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, was brought in to supervise the building of the line from May 10, 2019 · Transcontinental Railroad Lines, 1880s: This map shows clearly the many connections from Chicago and other points in the East to points in the West, little more than 10 years after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. If you are “Heading of east portal Tunnel No. Jul 1, 2014 · The Transcontinental Railroad for kids Ulysses Grant was the 18th American President who served in office from March 4, 1869 to March 4, 1877. Judah, a 28 year old railroad engineer from Bridgeport, Connecticut published "The Map of the Sacramento Valley Railroad: from the city of Sacramento to the crossing of the American River at Negro Bar, Sac. After much controversy over where the railroad would pass, the Pacific Railroad Act, adopted in 1862, granted contracts for the first line between Omaha and Sacramento to two companies: the Union Pacific Company for the eastern section from Nebraska and the Central Pacific Company for 2 days ago · Railroad - Transcontinental, Expansion, Industry: The first public proposal for such a line was made by the New York City merchant Asa Whitney in 1844. 1877: New Transcontinental Map of the Pacific Railroad. The original railroad names hundreds of stops along the tracks noting major and minor stations by font size. S. May 31, 2022 · The railroad wasn't simply speedy—it fundmanetally transformed numerous facets of American life and culture, as well as facilitating communication and commerce on an unprecedented scale. Modelski. [3] [7] Travel back time and learn about key events surrounding the Transcontinental Railroad, from 1769 to 1889. See maps, photos and facts about the project and its challenges. The idea for what became the Transcontinental Railroad began long before the Civil War's outbreak. At that time the United States did not hold outright possession of land west of the Rockies, though it exercised joint occupation of the Oregon Country until 1846, when under a treaty with Britain it gained possession of the Pacific coast Contains 623 maps chosen from more than 3,000 railroad maps and about 2,000 regional, state, and county maps, and other maps which show "internal improvements" of the past century. Hart, Traveller's Own Map, 1870. . One of the important events during his presidency was the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on March 10, 1869. 17 1/4" x 35 3/4" Courtesy of the Bruce C. Aug 28, 2024 · Rand McNally and Company. Trains made travel faster, safer, and much less physically taxing, but there was no transcontinental railroad that connected the country from east to west in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1854, Theodore D. Learn about the history and construction of the first railroad that connected the eastern and western U. The transcontinental railroad was also called the Pacific Railroad and the Overland Route. The site offers visitors a brief history of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as information on the history and technology of 19th century railroads. Most important, it offers full text access to the Linda Hall Library’s Jan 27, 2003 · Map Design & Animator William Bourbeau Art Department: The makers of Transcontinental Railroad traveled back and forth across the original route of the railroad, looking for locations, stories Apr 17, 2021 · The First Transcontinental Railroad completely disrupted the society and culture of the United States. Henry T. Sep 4, 2019 · By 1880, the transcontinental railroad was transporting $50 million worth of freight each year. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union Map of the Central Portion of the United States Showing the Lines of the Proposed Pacific Railroads, Library of Congress. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western Americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from Sacramento, California over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the to end of track at the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, Utah where the rails were joined on May 10, 1869 with the Union America's first transcontinental railroad (known originally as the "Pacific Railroad" and later as the "Overland Route") was a 1,911-mile (3,075 km) continuous railroad line built between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern U. ” ). Gouverneur Kemble Warren's "Map of the Territory of the United States from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. ) "NEW MAP OF THE AMERICAN OVERLAND ROUTE SHOWING ITS CONNECTIONS AND LAND GRANTS OF 30,000,000 ACRES. The presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail Apr 6, 2003 · "New Map of the American Overland Route" February, 1881 (Click on each image below to enlarge. It was accompanied by an outline map of North America which shows the route of his railroad from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, across the Rocky Mountains north of South Pass. , but it’s routes also connect every state from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The first Transcontinental Railroad (known originally as the "Pacific Railroad" and also as the “Great Transcontinental Railroad” and the “Overland Route”) was a continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869. “New Map of the Union Pacific Railway, the Short, Quick and Safe Line to All Points West, 1883” Library of Congress The makers of Transcontinental Railroad traveled back and forth across the original route of the railroad, looking for locations, stories, and images. Hart photographs, maps from the David Rumsey Map Center, and materials from Special Collections. The railroad divided Indian lands and brought settlers, who encroached on the lands even further. ADDITIONAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD MAPS: Apr 25, 2022 · As a result, President Lincoln signed into law the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862 (Briggs 1974:7). [1] As goods were distributed more quickly, demand increased and the U. The main line was officially completed on May 10, 1869. Judah returns to Washington armed with maps and profiles to lobby for appropriations Railroad System, United States, 1840 Author: Thomas, William G. “In January 1865, convinced that Chinese workers were capable, the Western settlers longed for a faster and easier way to travel across the West. Apr 20, 2010 · Learn about the construction, competition and impact of the transcontinental railroad that linked the United States from east to west in 1869. , Chicago. C. economy expanded. It is a story made up of a series of events and filled with the people and companies that made it happen—here are just a few of note: One of the early and most prominent people making the case for a transcontinental railroad was Asa Whitney. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. “Lloyd’s American railroad map of the United States…” by James T. Aug 22, 2024 · Seen above is a route map of the first Transcontinental Railroad (not-to-scale), completed between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads. Learn about the history and geography of transcontinental railroads in different continents and regions. The total length of the First Transcontinental Railroad was 1,776 miles. Jan 27, 2003 · Map Design & Animator William Bourbeau Art Department: The makers of Transcontinental Railroad traveled back and forth across the original route of the railroad, looking for locations, stories The coming of the Transcontinental Railroad (TCRR), the first communication revolution in the United States. Finally, after years of grueling labor, the two sides met on May 10, 1869, in Promontory Utah. Map showing the territory of the National Transcontinental Railway, in Quebec and Ontario (very pale blue along the top of the map). Most important, it offers full text access to the Linda Hall Library’s Travel back time and learn about key events surrounding the Transcontinental Railroad, from 1769 to 1889. Explore the history and legacy of this monumental project with Trains Magazine. The Pony Express traveled a similar route to the central route and helped to prove that the route was passable in winter. The transcontinental railroad's construction touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Sep 14, 2023 · Most Popular Railroad Maps: RG 134: Railroad Valuation Maps, 1915-1920 RG 49: Railroad Right-of-Way Maps, 1872-1875 RG 49: Railroad Maps Related to the 1875 Act Granting to Railroads the Right-of-Way through the Public Lands of the United States, 1875-1930 RG 21: Railroad Property Transfer Maps, 1973-1996 The best resource for learning more about railroad maps, plans, and other materials in Interesting Facts about the First Transcontinental Railroad. Visitors to the park can see the location of the Last Spike Site, 1869 railroad construction features, walk or drive on the original railroad grade, and get an up close view of Victorian era replica locomotives. See maps, photos and details of the three companies that built the line and the challenges they faced. Travel through Canada's varied landscapes, enjoy gourmet meals and watch for wildlife. But what about the nation’s second transcontinental railway? Meet the Northern Pacific. Both companies were promised vast amounts of land and government bonds for each mile of track laid down on the railroad. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. Explore the path of the original railroad This exhibit commemorates the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. lbvvyks llg csnat gdvd spplmo zbujx qmao vwmydq akjomh jjis