The story of the building of a railroad connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts of. If you want to know the history of the transcontinental railroad, this book is for you. The site offers visitors a brief history of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as information on the history and technology of 19th century railroads. The building of the transcontinental line across the vast mountains, plains, and deserts of the west was, undoubtedly, a spectacle to behold, and this is the book that puts you there.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. As an engineer, i am fascinated with the period locomotives, the rolling stock, the tunnels, the bridges. The building of the transcontinental line across the vast mountains, plains, and deserts of the west was, undoubtedly, a spectacle to behold, and this is the book. Inside the book readers will encounter events, people, and actions that shaped the building of the railroad that joined the east and west 32 pages long, includes facts, glossary, and sources of information. Colonialism and imperialism are two very distinct processes. Military railroad during the civil war, and in 1868, he set out to document the union pacifics journey to. The history and legacy of the first rail theres a problem loading this menu right now. In 1869, the dream was made a reality at promontory point, utah with the connection of two railway lines. Building the transcontinental railroad history of america. The building of the transcontinental railroad download the building of the transcontinental railroad ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format.
Can you think of other examples in history of the hangeron phenomenon. The transcontinental railroad was a dream of a country set on the concept of manifest destiny. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion. After the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. A native american man overlooking the newly completed transcontinental railroad in nevada, c. David haward bain discussed his book empire express. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the. Your book also challenges readers to consider the transcontinental railroad as a form of continental imperialism. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u.
Apr 15, 2016 this short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. Beginning in 1842 with a visionarys 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. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway.
January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at. Before the advent of the transcontinental railroad, a journey across the continent to the western states meant a dangerous six month trek over rivers, deserts, and mountains. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the 19th century. The building of the transcontinental railroad california. The building of the transcontinental railroad graphic history. The story of the building of a railroad connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts of north america. Building the transcontinental railroad book, 2002 worldcat. Why do you think so many hangerson lived in and around the railroad construction camps.
If his objective was to make the reader vicariously experience the arduous building of the transcontinental railroad then he succeeded. Stanford historians book shines light on chinese workers in california they helped complete the american dream of conquering the west. Some of us as children rode the train across the lucien cutoff to california. The line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. The central pacific began in sacramento, california working toward the east. Before the railroad, the fastest way to migrate to the west was by wagon, a journey fraught with danger over plains, deserts, mountains and rivers. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Alternatively, a traveler could hazard a six week sea voyage around cape horn, or sail to central america and cross the isthmus of panama by. The transcontinental railroad weber county library. Following the initiative of the one community one book program from the library of congress, we in weber reads pick a topic, an author, or a book every year and encourage people to learn, read, and discuss the ideas we encounter. Nothing like it in the world gives the account of an unprecedented feat of engineering, vision, and courage. The transcontinental railroad was completed in six years.
Click download or read online button to the building of the transcontinental railroad book pdf for free now. The pacific railway a brief history of building the transcontinental railroad. Describes the building of the transcontinental railroad between omaha, nebraska, and sacramento, california, that, when completed in 1869, allowed rail travel from the east coast to the west coast of the united states. The men who built the transcontinental the transcontinental railroad. Transcontinental railroad fact sheet prior to the opening of the transcontinental railroad, it took four to six months to travel 2000 miles from the missouri river to california by wagon. The building of the transcontinental railroad nathan olson. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the. As a program manager, i have an abiding interest in the logistics, the planning, and the. At the eastern end of the project, grenville dodge and his assistant, peter dey, surveyed the potential route the union pacific would follow. Building the transcontinental railroad library of congress.
The building of the transcontinental railroad book, 2007. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. The outposts of the american west were connected to the population centers back east. Covers the construction of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in may 1869 is usually told as a story of national triumph and a key moment for american manifest destiny. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 186369 as want to read.
Building the transcontinental railroad the library of congress. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. The building of the transcontinental railroad caught the imagination of the american public as well as that of artists and photographers. Jun 03, 2019 your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. They toiled through backbreaking labor during both frigid winters and blazing summers. The book describes the political maneuverings as well as the. African americans and the great migration, 19151930. Geography of chinese workers building the transcontinental. When the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the spring of 1869, it was celebrated as a marvel of engineering and an invaluable new link between people and places. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad online.
Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad. If you want a comprehensive book on the building of the railroad, this is the. It was here on may 10, 1869 that california governor stanford drove the golden spike or the last spike, that symbolized the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Railroad track had to be laid over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, including mountains of solid granite. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s.
It is extremely detailed and seems to be the best researched of many books on. The construction of a transcontinental railroad was one of the united states greatest technological achievements. Monica halpern is a childrens book writer who has penned several national geographic science chapters. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the atlantic and pacific coasts of the united states to be connected by rail for the first time in history. As a young boy i was enthralled by the stories of building the first transcontinental railroad. The central pacific railroad and the union pacific railroad lines met at promontory summit, utah. This railroad will unite the country and allow people to travel west to pursue new lives and opportunities. The building of the transcontinental railroad nathan. The makers of transcontinental railroad traveled back and. Building the central pacific now the southern pacific across the high sierra palo alto.
Along with the development of the atomic bomb, the digging of the panama canal, and landing the first men on the moon, the construction of a transcontinental railroad was one of the united states greatest technological achievements. The impact of the transcontinental railroad on native. May 10, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad. How was the existing railroad used to build new sections of the same railroad. The book covers the story of the central pacific and union pacific railroads, the men behind them, and the race to build the transcontinental railroad. President lincoln was a former railroad lawyer who signed the pacific railroad act in 1862. View the entire book from evolution of the conservation movement, 18501920. Download pdf the building of the transcontinental railroad. Your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project.
Jun 16, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the 19th century. The linda hall library transcontinental railroad website was created with generous support from the bnsf burlington northern santa fe foundation. Apr 27, 2016 the line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. The historical events are retold in a dramatic, graphic novel format. I still have the picture book from my school days which is full of black and white photos from 18689. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the transcontinental railroad.
It follows the initial conception of the idea of a transcontinental railroad, during the two decades before the civil war, to the work of the engineers and entrepreneurs who fixed the route, assembled financing, drafted a work force and launched the two lines toward the. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Transcontinental railroad and the american west youtube. Building the first transcontinental railroad, published by viking press. A brief history of building the transcontinental railroad. In high school richard enrolled in commercial art and later took life drawing classes at a community college before taking a job at a local. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroadthe investors who. Beginning in 1842 with a visionarys 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.
This cartoon illustrate the tremendous amount of racism that resulted from the influx of so many chinese as workers building the transcontinental railroad. Sep 01, 2000 after the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event. The men that built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 new edition by ambrose, stephen e. The first spikes were driven in 1863, in the midst of the civil war. It connected the east and west coast of the united states paving the way for white settlers at the expense of. May 06, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad. The transcontinental railroad greatly boosted americas economy and contributed to the westward expansion.
And most of us know the story of the building of this transcontinental railroad, that was a vital part of abraham lincolns vision of a united country, following the civil war. The building of the transcontinental railroad book information. This short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. Building the transcontinental railroad the men who laid tracks across the sierra nevada were mostly immigrants from. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events. It seems from this that the book was written in a hurry.
At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. Hundreds died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease. Aug 29, 2000 as would be expected from stephen ambrose, nothing like it in the world is a thorough, informative and entertaining account of the building of the transcontinental railroad. Obviously, not only did more mileage mean more territory but also greater revenue. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroadthe investors who risked their businesses and money. The government gives two railroad companies the central pacific and union pacific the job of building the first transcontinental railroad. The real exciting stuff the bribery, corruption etcthat made the building of the transcontinental railroad. The railroad made it possible to cross the country in a matter of days instead of months, paved the way for new settlers to come out west, and helped speed americas entry onto the world stage as a modern nation that spanned a full continent. The union pacific began construction of their rail in omaha, nebraska working toward the west. Instead of months, it took just 10 days to cross the country. Russell had been the official photographer of the u. Building the first transcontinental railroad is a book written by david haward bain, published in 2000. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
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