A national connection
Union Pacific built westward while Central Pacific built eastward, meeting at Promontory Summit, Utah.
Economic impact
The railroad sharply reduced travel time between the eastern United States and the Pacific coast.
Human cost and labor
The project depended on difficult and dangerous labor, including major contributions from Chinese railroad workers in the West and diverse workforces elsewhere.
A complicated legacy
The railroad accelerated commerce and migration while also contributing to displacement, environmental change and profound impacts on Indigenous communities.
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