![]() It burned in the 1906 earthquake and fire.Īs an artifact, the spike is historical, but stories about what became of it approached mythical status, largely because many of the estimated 500 to 3,000 people standing amid the sagebrush probably could not get a clear view of the ceremony or hear what was said on a windy day. Pre-drilled with four holes and placed in the ground under the last rail, it had a silver plate engraved, "The last tie laid on completion of the Pacific Railroad, May, 1869." It was taken back to Sacramento and kept in a railroad shop until 1890, when it was moved to Southern Pacific's San Francisco main office. A 7.5-foot tie made of polished California laurel, donated by West Evens, tie contractor for Central Pacific, to receive the ceremonial spikes.The maul joined the Hewes Golden Spike and the silver spike at Stanford University. A silver-plated maul, or hammer, wielded at the ceremony by Stanford and Durant.Yet another tale states it was returned to the News Letter and made its way back to San Francisco, where it was lost during the 1906 earthquake and fire. Other accounts place the spike with Durant or Union Pacific board member John Duff. What Dodge did with it – if he actually received it – is unknown. It allegedly was handed to Grenville Dodge, Union Pacific's chief engineer. It was engraved, "With this spike, the San Francisco ‘News Letter' offers its homage to the great work which has joined the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans." It was never as prominent as the Hewes spike, and it faded into obscurity. A second, lower-quality golden spike, presented by Frederick Marriott, proprietor of a San Francisco newspaper.It's currently on loan to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs. Presented by Governor Safford." The spike was given to Union Pacific executive Sidney Dillon, and eventually was acquired by the Museum of the City of New York from Dillon's granddaughter. It was inscribed, "Ribbed with iron, clad in silver and crowned with gold, Arizona presents her offering to the enterprise that has banded a continent, dictated a pathway to commerce. ![]() ![]() A blended spike of iron, gold and silver, provided by the territory of Arizona.To the iron of the East and the gold of the West Nevada adds her link of silver to span the continent and wed the oceans." It also is on display at Stanford's Cantor Center for Visual Arts. This spike, weighing 25 troy ounces, was rushed to the site and later inscribed, "To Leland Stanford President of the Central Pacific Railroad. A silver spike, presented by the newly formed state of Nevada.The spike was joined by five other donated items, each competing for a place in history: News of the Golden Spike quickly spread, and others scrambled to get a piece of the action in time for the Promontory Summit ceremony. Today, it is on display in Stanford's Cantor Center for Visual Arts. A third side says, "The Pacific Railroad ground broken Jany 8th 1863 and completed May 8th 1869." (Inclement weather and a labor dispute delayed Union Pacific officials' arrival at the site, postponing the ceremony two days.) The fourth side states, "May God continue the unity of our country as this railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world." Attached to its tip was a rough gold nugget or "sprue" that was later broken off, and commemorative watch fobs and rings were reportedly made.įollowing the ceremony, Stanford returned the spike to Hewes, who held it until 1892 when he donated it to the newly formed Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto, California. The top reads, "THE LAST SPIKE." Two sides list Central Pacific directors and officers. Hewes had the spike polished and engraved by a local jeweler. Garrett Foundry of 17.6-carat gold alloyed with copper, the spike measures 5 9/16 inches in length and weighs 14.13 troy ounces. Durant at Promontory Summit.Ĭast at the William T. Leland Stanford, president of the Central Pacific Railroad, who would join Union Pacific Vice President Thomas C. In spring 1869, he ordered a spike be created and delivered to former California Gov. David Hewes, a well-known San Francisco contractor, was no exception. Schoolchildren learn about the famous spike, but few know about its companions at Promontory Summit or this tale's unexpected twist.Ĭompleting construction of what was known as the "Pacific Railway" by driving home a golden spike appealed to the romantic spirit embraced by many 19th-century Americans. From left: the silver spike from Nevada, the Golden Spike and the blended spike from Arizona.įor a century and a half, the Golden Spike has symbolized one of the most audacious and significant undertakings in American history – completion of the world's first transcontinental railroad.
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