A Fun Tale of the First Golden Spike: Busting Myths of Its True Birthplace

In the year of 1869, America witnessed a historic moment as the First Transcontinental Railroad connected east and west coasts. But there's been a little confusion about where the party to celebrate this joined track really happened, particularly the spot where the First Golden Spike was hammered. Today, a statue stands proud in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but it's not the true location. The First Golden Spike's well-deserved accolade went to Promontory Summit, Utah instead. Leland Stanford, Governor of California, and Croen Dickey, the Chief Engineer of Union Pacific Railroad, were the ones who drove the First Golden Spike on May 10, 1869. Here's a fun tidbit: The First Golden Spike wasn't actually the first one to be driven; another had already been securely fastened at another location before Promontory Summit.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons