Marking the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the u. 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. Jul 11, 2011 how trains railroaded the american economy in his new book, railroaded, historian richard white examines the impact transcontinental train corporations had on business and politics at the end of. The transcontinental railroad in childrens books central. 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. The transcontinental railroad weber county library. A transcontinental railroad or transcontinental railway is a contiguous network railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders.
The transcontinental railroad addresses the laborious and often dangerous process of connecting the united states from east to west. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the transcontinental railroad. Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad. Transcontinental railroad this pbs take on the transcontinental railroad brings ample detail and great archival material, along with the commentary of some of our best railroad historians. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869. This is an actual book, not the kindle edition, which is the only version that shows up in goodreads. Building the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s was one of the great achievements of the era. It provides some good information on the building of the transcontinental railroad. The line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world.
The book begins with engineer theodore judahs dream of a transcontinental railroad and concludes with the longterm effects of americas railroad expansion. Apr 15, 2016 this short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. 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. It connected the east and west coast of the united states. Usps celebrates 150th anniversary of the transcontinental. Iron rails, iron men, and the race to link the nation. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad or over those owned or.
The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869. The transcontinental railroad goodreads share book. The impact of the transcontinental railroad on native. Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. Jun 16, 2019 he is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever. This book provides the keys to discovering the important people, places and events that helped shape the western united states. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. The building of the transcontinental railroad book information.
Hook your students take part in an important historical event that gave americans a way to travel and move goods from the east to the west faster than ever. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway. The pacific railway a brief history of building the transcontinental railroad. The coming of the transcontinental railroad tcrr, the first communication revolution in the united states. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. Stanford historians book shines light on chinese workers in california they helped complete the american dream of conquering the west. May 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. This lesson plan provides great book such as the transcontinental railroad and you wouldnt want to work on a railroad, which would to use in ela during the railroad lesson. Apr 27, 2016 the line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. How could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged american west. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad by sleeping in a train car these authentic cabooses, mail cars and train cars from u.
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. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events. With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. One hundred and fifty years ago on may 10, 1869, university founder leland stanford drove the last spike that marked the. Colonialism and imperialism are two very distinct processes. Chock full of interesting, accessible information, this book is a terrific look at the early days of the transcontinental railroad. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Building the first transcontinental railroad bains bookthe product of a 14year effortis the authoritative account and will probably remain so for a long time. May 07, 2019 celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad by sleeping in a train car these authentic cabooses, mail cars and train cars from u. Obviously, not only did more mileage mean more territory but also greater revenue.
Weber county is a collection of railroad towns and people whose lives have been affected by the railroad. Mark twain chronicled his experiences living and working out west in his book roughing it, published in 1872. 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. Among his new york times bestsellers are nothing like it in the. Transcontinental railroad and the american west youtube. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. Transcontinental railroads in and near the united states by 1887. Grade 46 the linking of east and west through the railway is the theme of millers wellresearched and readable book, which offers a wealth of information on this important event. The transcontinental railroad the transcontinental railroad. If you want the whole story, its here, 700 wonderfully written and meticulously researched pages. On the one hand, it was a triumph of engineering skills over thousands of miles of rough terrain, but on the other hand, it drained the natural resources in those places nearly dry. Your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project.
This short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. Your book also challenges readers to consider the transcontinental railroad as a form of continental imperialism. The transcontinental railroad, laid across the united states during the 1860s, remains the very epitome of contradiction. Postal service will commemorate this 19th century marvel with a magnificent set of forever stamps. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. The men who imagined the transcontinental railroad were impassioned profiteers, an unlikely, often ruthless band, guilty of both financial doubledealing and ferocious ingenuity. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 paperback november 6, 2001. Presented in a comic book format, this mini book will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. Nonetheless, central pacific railroad was desperate, says gordon chang, stanford professor of american history and author of the book. 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. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to.
No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. Transcontinental railroad printable minibooks, lesson plans and ideas. After the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad online. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The design and illustrations are wonderful, making this title a pleasure to read. Many civil war veterans worked on the transcontinental railroad after the war. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. May 06, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad. Alternatively, a traveler could hazard a six week sea voyage around cape horn, or sail to. An age appropriate grades 35 introduction to curriculumrelevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study is included. On the one hand, it was a triumph of engineering skills over thousands of miles of rough terrain, but on the other hand, it drained the natural resources in. Some of us as children rode the train across the lucien cutoff to california. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s.
Sometimes the text was a bit wooden and a bit of in depth analysis was lacking, but overall, it was an interesting read. Join nationallyrecognized author and storyteller sam payne and utah music icon clive romney and friends on a lively train to discovery. January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california. 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. Buy echoes of hammers and spikes fullcolor 9 x 12 book and 20song album celebrate americas greatest technological achievement of building the transcontinental railroad. This year, we have chosen the transcontinental railroad as our topic.
The transcontinental railroad greatly boosted americas economy and contributed to the westward expansion. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion. The epic story of the chinese who built the transcontinental railroad the gold rush had brought thousands from china to california. May 08, 2019 may 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. 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.
Congress authorized the first transcontinental railroad during the civil war, and on may 10, 1869, the union pacific and the central pacific. Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than thirty books. Subtitled incorrectly the men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869, i knew i was taking a risk reading an ambrose book, but the subject was. An interesting book about the big four in california and the impact they had on the building of the transcontinental railroad and on the development of california as a state. John perritano describes the development of a railway system uniting the united states, from its design and planning, through the problems that plagued its construction, to its completion in 1869 and its subsequent. However, the book appears to have been cobbled together as fast as the editors could do so. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. The transcontinental railroad by john perritano, paperback. Ambrose gathers the story as presented by many secondary sources and peppers it with great quotes and biographical detail. He is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain.
Presented in a comicbook format, this minibook will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. The first transcontinental railroad in north america was built in the 1860s, linking the well developed railway network of the east coast with rapidly growing california. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental. Although ambrose was a retired university history professor, the book was written as a. This book tells the story of swaggering men with big plans, of an america emerging from the civil war and reaching its manifest destiny. It connected the east and west coast of the united states paving the way for white settlers at the expense of. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. And even though they made major contributions to the construction of the transcontinental railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history. The firstdayofissue event for the transcontinental railroad forever stamp is free and open to the public. What changes did the transcontinental railroad bring to the. Jun 03, 2019 your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad.
Transcontinental railroad information, timeline, interactive, primary source docs, etc. The transcontinental railroad audiobook by charles river. 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. The completion was marked by the golden spike ceremony, held on may 10, 1869, when rail lines built by the central pacific from the west and the union pacific from the east were joined at promontory summit in utah. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Nothing like it in the world is a narrative history of the planning and construction of the pacific railroad during the 1860s which. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore. The iron road this is the earlier and lesser of two pbs american experience films on the transcontinental railroad. Informational nonfiction, 1,565 words, level x grade 5, lexile 990l multilevel book also available in levels z1 and z2 how could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged american west. May 10, 2019 and even though they made major contributions to the construction of the transcontinental railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history.
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. Covers the construction of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 ambrose, stephen e. The first transcontinental railroad was built crossing the western half of america and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. How trains railroaded the american economy in his new book, railroaded, historian richard white examines the impact transcontinental train corporations had on business and politics at the end of. The transcontinental railroad turning points in american. The transcontinental railroad was created during the industrial revolution and it changed how people were able to communicate, transport goods, and travel across the nation. The outposts of the american west were connected to the population centers back east.