Back to the front page
American History

Small Moments, Massive Impact: 22 Events That Created Modern America

150604 civil rights 07

The Transcontinental Railroad Connects America

rhc z 0512rhkj last spike promontory
Source: reporterherald.com

Completed in 1869, the transcontinental railroad joined the eastern and western United States with a single rail line. Travel time across the country dropped from months to days. New towns sprang up along the route as goods moved faster than ever before. The project required incredible engineering feats and labor from thousands of workers, including many Chinese immigrants. America became truly interconnected for the first time.

Written by

Keep reading

Advertisement