1st transcontinental railroad

The first transcontinental railroad, also known as the "Pacific Railroad" or "Overland Route," was completed in 1869, connecting the eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Pacific coast at Oakland, California. Built by the Western Pacific, Central Pacific, and Union Pacific Railroad companies, it revolutionized transportation, making coast-to-coast travel faster and more affordable. The Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah, marked its completion, and it played a crucial role in the settlement and economic growth of the American West. Travel from New York to San Francisco then took six days instead of six months.