🚂 AMERICAN ICON: The Golden Spike of 1869

Today is a notable American anniversary: the Golden Spike that completed the first North American transcontinental railroad was driven into place in Promontory Summit, Utah, on this day in 1869. There was a big celebration in 2019 on the Spike’s 150th anniversary, and the many educational resources developed for that occasion are all still available online at spike150.org.

You may also be able to teach a little homeschool lesson about this important historical anniversary today just by checking your pocket change, since the iconic Golden Spike appeared on the 2007 Utah state quarter.

For the hundredth anniversary of the Spike in 1969, the U.S. Mint produced a beautiful centennial commemorative medal (not one that you’re likely to find in your pocket change). Part of its design was artfully incorporated into the 2007 state quarter.

The Post Office has been in the game, too, and it marked the 75th anniversary of the Spike in 1944 with a beautifully engraved commemorative stamp.

It would be hard to overestimate the historical importance railroads in the development of human society from the nineteenth century to today. For a good ten-minute lesson to share with your homeschoolers this week turn to page 293 in your recommended homeschool history encyclopedia, where you’ll find an introduction to rail and the Industrial Revolution, and then turn to page 310 for notes on the North American transcontinental railroad and the settlement of the American West.

What historical explorations have you and your students made in your homeschool this Leo Term? 😊

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