1967 Map of Golden Spike Monument

About this map

The Golden Spike National Historic Site serves as the focal point of this survey, marking the definitive landscape of American transcontinental rail history. The map meticulously traces the historic competing routes, showing the Old Central Pacific Grade and the Old Union Pacific Grade as they converge near the high ground of Promontory. This area is characterized by the formidable Promontory Mts, where travelers and surveyors once navigated through Kings Pass. Beyond the engineering of the railroad, the terrain includes North Hollow and the expansive Rozel Flat to the southwest. Water sources, vital in this arid environment, are noted at Mud Springs and several seasonal springs within Cold Water Canyon, providing a clear picture of the geographic challenges faced during the late 19th-century westward expansion.