FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2021-89 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (May 10, 2021) – In Issue 2021-89 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we celebrate a railway connection from 1869.

Gold Spike

Transcontinental Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha met the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento at Promontory Summit, Utah, near the Great Salt Lake in 1869 on this day.

Leland Stanford drove in the ceremonial gold spike to officially link the two railroads.  This allowed one to travel on rails from one coast to another much faster than by any other means. Rapid transit for its day.  While not jetliner or Amazon speed of today, it hugely enabled the growth of the USA.

Here is Gray’s map of Utah from three years prior to that momentous event.

Map of Utah – Circa 1866 (Credit Steve Kovacs)

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.