AHC Logo

American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
Exhibits
Send Comments or Questions
AHC Homepage
University of Wyoming Homepage
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs from the PBS' American Experience, "Transcontinental Railroad"

Etta, the Spanish Girl, a frontier prostitute, date unknown.
Etta, the Spanish Girl, a frontier prostitute, date unknown. Photograph from the AHC Collections.
On May 10, 1869, the last rails of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific (now the Southern Pacific) were joined at Promontory, Utah.
On May 10, 1869, the last rails of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific (now the Southern Pacific) were joined at Promontory, Utah.  A train from the East and one from the West halted within a few feet of each other.  A memorable scene was then enacted--a spike of pure California gold was driven, signifying the completion of the first chain of railroads to span the American continent.  William H. Wroten Collection, American Heritage Center.
Indians at Promontory Point near Russell's Camp, Union Pacific Railroad, ca. 1868-1869.
Indians at Promontory Point near Russell's Camp, Union Pacific Railroad, ca. 1868-1869.  Photograph from the AHC Collections.
Work train denies Gate Bridge, date unknown.
Work train denies Gate Bridge, date unknown. Union Pacific Railroad Collection, American Heritage Center.
Supply trains at end of track, last siding, 1869.
Supply trains at end of track, last siding, 1869.  A Casement work train unloads materials to be carried forward by freight wagons to Union Pacific track crews racing toward Promontory Summit.  A. J. Russell photograph, from the Harriett Gibson Weaver Collection, American Heritage Center.
Laramie residents post in front of the Spanish Bazaar, an early Laramie, Wyoming mercantile, date unknown.
Laramie residents post in front of the Spanish Bazaar, an early Laramie, Wyoming mercantile, date unknown.  Photograph from the American Heritage Center Collections.
"Dance House-Keystone Hall, at Laramie," date unknown.
"Dance House-Keystone Hall, at Laramie," date unknown.   Clarice Whittenburg Papers,  American Heritage Center.

Photos and materials from the William O. Owen Collection and the John and Frances Casement Collection at the American Heritage Center were featured on the PBS American Experience, "Transcontinental Railroad" which aired January 17, 2003.  Carol Bowers, American Heritage Center, Reference Department Assistant Archivist and Phil Roberts, University of Wyoming, History Department Associate Professor were featured in the program.

If you would like further information on the William O. Owen Papers or the John and Frances Casement Papers or would like to purchase copies of these photographs, please contact Carol Bowers at Phone: 307-766-2580 or ahcref@uwyo.edu.

Horiz.gif (855 bytes)

American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3924, Laramie, WY 82071.  Phone:  307.766.4114,  Fax:  307.766.5511, E-mail: shelstad@uwyo.edu.  Copyright © University of Wyoming, 2003.  Created on January 31, 2003.  Last modified on January 31, 2003.