Monday, July 11, 2016

We had more sightseeing options around Brigham City than we had time, so Joani opted for the Golden Spike National Monument.  I guess I was thinking this was going to be some dry history exhibit and had pretty low expectations.  I was very pleasantly surprised. Golden Spike was one of the more interesting National Park Monuments we have visited.

Sam was with us and even though it was a pretty cool morning we wanted to find him some shade.  There was exactly one tree perfectly situated in the parking area to shade a single spot and we snagged it.

We found out later that Golden Spike was dog-friendly (except in buildings).

As it turned out, we arrived 15 minutes before they were bringing the steam locomotives out.  We were nearly alone as we headed out to the tracks, but a crowd quickly gathered.  I guess I have always had a fondness for trains and these were beauties.  The Central Pacific Railroad was represented by the Jupiter while the Union Pacific Railroad ran Engine 119.  

Central Pacific's Jupiter had a wood-burning engine.

Ranger Matthew said the colors were historically accurate. I'm guessing the road grime left them looking basically black most of the time.

Union Pacific's No.119 had a coal burning engine.

They parked the two locomotives head to head to re-enact their original position at the ceremony celebrating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.  The celebration included driving a golden spike into the last timber to complete the track.  

The panorama David took blew me away (they are hard to get right).

"East Meets West" Centennial painting of the last spike ceremony by American artist Frank C. McCarthy.

Before May of 1869, the western terminus for all rail lines was Omaha. From there, pioneers intent on continuing westward went by wagon.  It took months of grueling and often dangerous travel to reach the west coast.  Once the railroad was completed, the trip from Omaha to San Francisco could be completed in two or three days in relative comfort and safety.  It gave me a new appreciation for our RV (the modern version of the Conestoga wagon) and the Interstate Highway system.

We both waited and waited for the mamma swallow to swoop in and bring them food, but when she did...

...the little one's reaction was sooo ecstatic I jumped and blurred the shot.  We waited again and just as we gave up she would swoop in.

Salt flats dot highway 83.