The Transcontinental Railroad The Big Race To The Golden Spike

It was a daunting task, but a necessary one-to build a railroad across the United States to unite East and West! From 1863 to 1869, thousands of workers braved blizzards, flash floods, dangerous dynamite blasts, buffalo stampedes, and occasional Indian attacks as they labored across America's plains, prairie, mountains and desert. This book includes: Reasons for the Railroad Follow the Wagon Trail The Central Pacific The Union Pacific The Golden Spike Toil and Trouble Chinese Laborers New Cities New Industries Hands-on Activities Reproducible Activities Glossary Fascinating Facts Timeline And Lots More! The story of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Golden Spike, and the "Westward to Promontory" adventure gives students a compelling look at what it takes to make change, to make progress... and to do so in spite of all types of obstacles, most of them seemingly insurmountable, but which never stop those who dare to dream and do! Grab your hammer- and "ride the rails" in this fun, factual, and "can't believe they did that!" book!

The 22-book American Milestone series is featured as "Retailers Recommended Fabulous Products" in the August 2012 edition of Educational Dealer magazine. It was a daunting task, but a necessary one-to build a railroad across the United States to unite East and West! From 1863 to 1869, thousands of workers braved blizzards, flash floods, dangerous dynamite blasts, buffalo stampedes, and occasional Indian attacks as they labored across America's plains, prairie, mountains and desert. This book includes: • Reasons for the Railroad • Follow the Wagon Trail • The Central Pacific • The Union Pacific • The Golden Spike • Toil and Trouble • Chinese Laborers • New Cities • New Industries • Hands-on Activities • Reproducible Activities • Glossary • Fascinating Facts • Timeline • And Lots More! The story of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Golden Spike, and the "Westward to Promontory" adventure gives students a compelling look at what it takes to make change, to make progress... and to do so in spite of all types of obstacles, most of them seemingly insurmountable, but which never stop those who dare to dream and do! Grab your hammer- and "ride the rails" in this fun, factual, and "can't believe they did that!" book!

A railroad across the United States was once thought to be nearly impossible. The vast expanse from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans had so many obstacles, including towering mountain ranges and broad rivers. However, the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act tasked two railroad companies—the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific—with building a transcontinental railroad to link the coasts. How they managed to meet finally in 1869 is the important account detailed in this well-researched volume. Readers will learn about key characters, such as engineer Theodore Judah and investor Leland Stanford, and the innovations and technologies that made their extraordinary feat a reality.

After the Civil War, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth century's most transformative event. Beginning in 1842 with a visionary's dream to span the continent with twin bands of iron, Empire Express captures three dramatic decades in which the United States effectively doubled in size, fought three wars, and began to discover a new national identity. From self--made entrepreneurs such as the Union Pacific's Thomas Durant and era--defining figures such as President Lincoln to the thousands of laborers whose backbreaking work made the railroad possible, this extraordinary narrative summons an astonishing array of voices to give new dimension not only to this epic endeavor but also to the culture, political struggles, and social conflicts of an unforgettable period in American history.

A groundbreaking, breathtaking history of the Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad, helping to forge modern America only to disappear into the shadows of history until now.

The Civil War tore a hole in the country, creating a wound that was almost impossible to heal. At a time when the two sides of the nation were still struggling to accept the war’s casualties, something else came along to unite the county again. It was the Transcontinental Railroad—a line of train tracks stretching from one side of the war–torn country to the next. Read about the battle to find the best route for the rails, and discover how laborers survived drilling through mountain peaks and the onslaught of winter blizzards. Meet the people who persevered to accomplish this railroad, including the determined Mormon workers, the Irish immigrants, and thousands of Chinese workers. Also find out about the scandals and the huge impact of the rails on the lives of countless Native Americans.

On May 10, 1869, the final spike in North America's first transcontinental railroad was driven home at Promontory Summit, Utah. Illustrated with the author's carefully researched, evocative paintings, here is a great adventure story in the history of the American West--the day Charles Crocker staked $10,000 on the crews' ability to lay a world record ten miles of track in a single, Ten Mile Day.