Golden Spike National Historic Site - Brigham City, Utah

Address:Brigham City, Utah
Tel: (435) 471-2209

Come see where east met west at the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory Summit, Utah. The Golden Spike National Historic Site, located just north of the Great Salt Lake, is the site of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad. Today, the site hosts beautiful scenery, nature walks and auto tours.

On May 10, 1869, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads were joined to form the first Transcontinental Railroad, reducing travel time from coast to coast from six months to just one week. It was not until 1957, however, that the Golden Spike National Historic Site was approved as a national historic site under nonfederal ownership, coming under federal ownership in 1965. In 1978, a plan was adopted to restore the scenery of the 2,735-acre Golden Spike National Historic Site to its original 1869 appearance.

Visitors to the Golden Spike National Historic Site can walk through the majestic surroundings and tour the site. The Big Fill Loop Trail is a mile and a half walking trail through work areas from the time when the railroad was being built. The West Auto Tour is a 14-mile loop showing the construction phases of the Central Pacific Railroad, as well as an astounding view of the Great Salt Lake. The East Auto Tour is a two-mile loop showing the construction phases of the Union Pacific Railroad, along with a walk to the Chinese Arch, a natural limestone formation that serves as a memorial to the thousands of Chinese who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad. There is no food available at the Golden Spike National Historic Site, so visitors should pack accordingly.

To get to the Golden Spike National Historic Site, take I-15 north to exit 365, turn west on Highway 13 to Highway 83, then follow signs to Golden Spike.