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The MUSE magazine highlights heritage and arts in Utah. This guide is a publication of the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts and published in partnership with Utah Media Group. This publication is distributed by subscription through the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune on a semi-annual basis. Contents in this issue include: 1) Utah History Day; 2) Utah Locomotive Atlas; 3) Kites, Handcarts, and Nightgowns; 4) When Learning Shines Through, 5) Protect. Preserve. Participate; 6) Portrait of a Railroad Poem; and 7) Reading Between the Lines.

Promontory Summit in Northern Utah has experienced a rich, colorful history, yet it remains a paradox. The area has seen boom and bust. It has been famous world-over, yet remains anonymous in many ways, The "Last Spike Site" is an honored and celebrated place, but it has also been quite infamous. The completion of the country's first transcontinental railroad, and the "Wedding of the Rails Ceremony" commemorating this historic event, are taught to virtually every American child in basic U.S. history classes. But few people know where these events really happened. Many historians point to the "Last Spike Site" as the single most important site in our country, west of Independence Hall. Yet this significant site laid virtually abandoned and ignored for almost a century.

The Transcontinental Railroad was built by many thousands of workers from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which truly created a unique blend of people that continues to define the nation to this day. One of the groups that literally took on the brunt of the work, were the Chinese laborers. Most of the Chinese workers, who numbered over 11,000 by the end of the project, were employed by the Central Pacific Railroad building out of Sacramento, California.

Take an inside look of how the musical "Spike 150: As One" was made. Meet the creators of SPIKE 150: AS ONE -- a stirring new musical inspired by the Golden Spike era with five original compositions and performances. "As One" was written and directed by the all-star team of award-winning composer, producer and songwriter Stephen Nelson; lyricist and vocalist Anjanette Mickelsen; and direction and choreography by Jennifer Parker Hohl. Distinguished musician and conductor Craig Jessop was the show’s executive producer. "As One" featured a chorus and band of more than 250 elementary school students selected from Utah’s 29 counties. SPIKE 150: AS ONE was recorded live at the Golden Spike National Historic Site on May 10th, 2019 at 12:30pm.

This stirring new musical inspired by the Golden Spike era includes five original compositions and performances. As One is written and directed by the all-star team of award-winning composer, producer and songwriter Stephen Nelson; lyricist and vocalist Anjanette Mickelsen; and direction and choreography by Jennifer Parker Hohl. Distinguished musician and conductor Craig Jessop is the show's executive producer. As One features a chorus and band of more than 250 elementary school students selected from Utah's 29 counties.

Join along as we travel the Transcontinental Scenic Backcountry Byway of the railroad grade in Box Elder County, Utah. We will stop at various points along the railroad to learn more about the history of its construction, maintenance, lives of its workers and archaeology.

This stirring new musical inspired by the Golden Spike era includes five original compositions and performances. As One is written and directed by the all-star team of award-winning composer, producer and songwriter Stephen Nelson; lyricist and vocalist Anjanette Mickelsen; and direction and choreography by Jennifer Parker Hohl. Distinguished musician and conductor Craig Jessop is the show's executive producer. As One features a chorus and band of more than 250 elementary school students selected from Utah's 29 counties.

This stirring new musical inspired by the Golden Spike era includes five original compositions and performances. As One is written and directed by the all-star team of award-winning composer, producer and songwriter Stephen Nelson; lyricist and vocalist Anjanette Mickelsen; and direction and choreography by Jennifer Parker Hohl. Distinguished musician and conductor Craig Jessop is the show's executive producer. As One features a chorus and band of more than 250 elementary school students selected from Utah's 29 counties.

Promontory Summit in Northern Utah has experienced a rich, colorful history, yet it remains a paradox. The area has seen boom and bust. It has been famous world-over, yet remains anonymous in many ways, The "Last Spike Site" is an honored and celebrated place, but it has also been quite infamous. The completion of the country's first transcontinental railroad, and the "Wedding of the Rails Ceremony" commemorating this historic event, are taught to virtually every American child in basic U.S. history classes. But few people know where these events really happened. Many historians point to the "Last Spike Site" as the single most important site in our country, west of Independence Hall. Yet this significant site laid virtually abandoned and ignored for almost a century.

The Transcontinental Railroad was built by many thousands of workers from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which truly created a unique blend of people that continues to define the nation to this day. One of the groups that literally took on the brunt of the work, were the Chinese laborers. Most of the Chinese workers, who numbered over 11,000 by the end of the project, were employed by the Central Pacific Railroad building out of Sacramento, California.

The joining of the rails at Promontory on May 10, 1869 marked not only the first transcontinental rail line in America, but also the dawn of Utah's rail age. Railroad development within the state surged ahead, working in synergy with the rise of Utah's mining industry. In 1904, the route over Promontory was abandoned when the Lucin Cutoff opened. By 1920, Utah boasted 1,966 miles of rail.

What was the color of a steam locomotive? Most people would say they have no color, no dazzle or sparkle; they're just a flat, dirty black. That image typically comes to mind because the steam locomotives we see in movies and on television are of 1900's vintage, and were without color. But the locomotives of the 1860's? Now that is a horse of a different color!

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

From May until November, 1869, a city of tents stood at Promontory Summit, the home to a variety of businesses, railroad workers, and optimistic speculators hoping that this would become a major railroad junction city. During construction of the transcontinental railroad a string of towns arose along the line. Some, such as Reno, Nevada, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, outgrew their canvas origins and prospered as regional centers. However, the two railroads decided to relocate transfer operations from Promontory to Ogden, Utah. When the first Central Pacific train scheduled for Ogden went through Promontory on December 6, 1869 the tent city was gone.

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

From the inception of railroading, railroad workers have captured the public’s imagination. During the 1840’s, attention was especially drawn to railroad conductors who began wearing distinguishing apparel, thus creating the first railroad uniform. A prominent article of the crisp, dark, tailored uniforms was the small billed, dark colored, fine silk hat, bearing a silver nameplate which read "Conductor."

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

Governor Gary R. Herbert's message about Spike 150. One of the most iconic and life-altering events in America’s history – the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad – happened in Utah on May 10, 1869. Spike 150 is organized to partner with all those celebrating the 150-year anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony in Utah. Through a series of activities and events, the Spike 150 initiative aims to inspire, educate, and reflect on the Transcontinental Railroad legacy as it unifies Utahns to see that great things are possible with vision, hard-work, dedication, innovation, and collaboration.

What was the color of a steam locomotive? Most people would say they have no color, no dazzle or sparkle; they're just a flat, dirty black. That image typically comes to mind because the steam locomotives we see in movies and on television are of 1900's vintage, and were without color. But the locomotives of the 1860's? Now that is a horse of a different color!

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

From May until November, 1869, a city of tents stood at Promontory Summit, the home to a variety of businesses, railroad workers, and optimistic speculators hoping that this would become a major railroad junction city. During construction of the transcontinental railroad a string of towns arose along the line. Some, such as Reno, Nevada, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, outgrew their canvas origins and prospered as regional centers. However, the two railroads decided to relocate transfer operations from Promontory to Ogden, Utah. When the first Central Pacific train scheduled for Ogden went through Promontory on December 6, 1869 the tent city was gone.

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

"The 'frontier railroad' was ephemeral," wrote railroad historian Jim Wilkie, "only lasting a few years – until towns grew up along the line [and] eastern standards of good track and facilities were installed." Along the transcontinental railroad, upgrades and improvements coincided with the building of more permanent stations, including Promontory Station, Utah, and the similar Battle Mountain Station, Nevada, shown above. Stations contained ticket and telegraph offices and, sometimes, eating rooms and hotels, while nearby were coal sheds, engine houses, and other facilities to service the traveler and the iron horse.

From the inception of railroading, railroad workers have captured the public’s imagination. During the 1840’s, attention was especially drawn to railroad conductors who began wearing distinguishing apparel, thus creating the first railroad uniform. A prominent article of the crisp, dark, tailored uniforms was the small billed, dark colored, fine silk hat, bearing a silver nameplate which read "Conductor."