It is unknown what happened to Arizona Territory’s spike immediately following the Ceremony. To the iron of the East and the gold of the West Nevada adds her link of silver to span the continent and wed the oceans.” The spike was then delivered to Stanford and eventually placed along with the Golden Spike in the Stanford University museum. Nevada’s silver spike was temporarily returned to Virginia City jewelers Nye and Co., who polished the spike and engraved one side, “To Leland Stanford President of the Central Pacific railroad. In 1892, Hewes donated his extensive rare art collection, including the Golden Spike, to the museum of newly built Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto, California. Shilling of Western Union, sent the long awaited message, “D-O-N-E.” The time was 12:47 p.m., Monday, May 10, 1869.įollowing a brief time on display, the Golden Spike was returned to David Hewes. Durant, still not feeling too well, took a feeble swing, and did not even hit the tie! Finally, a regular rail worker drove home the last spike, and the telegrapher, W.N. Stanford took a mighty swing at the spike, and struck the tie instead. A fourth iron spike, and a regular iron spike hammer, were both wired to the transcontinental telegraph line so that the Nation could “hear” the blows as the spike was driven. Immediately thereafter, the precious metal spikes and laurel wood tie were removed and replaced with a pine tie, into which three ordinary iron spikes were driven.
Silver plated maul, which Stanford and Durant used to gently tap the precious metal spikes, so as to leave no mark upon either the spikes, or the maul. He was to have been followed by Durant, but due to Durant’s severe headache (most likely a hangover from the previous night’s party in Ogden) Union Pacific’s Chief Engineer, General Grenville Dodge, took Durant’s place and gave a few short, but enthusiastic words. Trittle and Arizona’s spike by Governor Safford.
Union Pacific Vice-President Thomas Durant was then presented Nevada’s silver spike by Mr. Harkness, a Sacramento newspaper publisher and editor, presented the two golden spikes to Leland Stanford. Presentation of the spikes and ties followed.Īfter an arduously verbose speech, Dr. An invocation was offered by Reverend Dr. The ceremony then commenced, emceed by wealthy Sacramento banker Edgar Mills. Presented David Hewes San Francisco.” The top of the spike was simply engraved, “The Last Spike.”īefore the start of the Golden Spike Ceremony, workers brought the laurel wood tie from Stanford’s coach, placed it on the grade, and laid the last rail sections across it. Another side was engraved, “The Pacific Railroad ground broken Jan 8th 1863 and completed May 8th 1869.” The fourth side was engraved, “May God continue the unity of our Country as this Railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world.
Two sides bore the names of railroad officers and directors. After casting, the golden spike was engraved on all four sides and the top. The remainder was left attached to the spike in a large sprue. Only about $350 worth of gold, however, was used to make the actual spike. The spike was 5 5/8 inches long, weighed 14.03 ounces and was made of 17.6 carat gold. Garatt Foundry of San Francisco cast a golden spike. Using $400 of his own gold, he had the William T. Unable to persuade anyone to finance the casting of a solid gold or silver section of rail, Hewes decided upon a more practical token. San Francisco contractor David Hewes, friend of Central Pacific President Leland Stanford, was disappointed to discover no one had prepared a commerative item for the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was scheduled to be finished on May 8, 1869.
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