Transcontinental Railroad | The Iron Road | 5

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Chinese laborers did much of the toughest work building the Central Pacific Railroad. That included blasting tunnels through the granite of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to eventually connect to the Union Pacific line at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869. Today, Lindsay is joined by Sue Lee, historian and former executive director of the Chinese Historical Society of America. She and historian Connie Young Yu edited Voices from the Railroad: Stories by descendants of Chinese railroad workers.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, history buffs, if you can't get enough of the captivating stories we uncover on American
0:04.7	history tellers, you'll love the exclusive experience of Wondry Plus.
0:08.4	Dive even deeper into the past with ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, and
0:13.0	bonus content that brings history to life like never before.
0:16.2	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcast and embark on an unparalleled journey through America's most pivotal moments.
0:35.5	Imagine it's a sunny, warm afternoon on May 10, 1869, and you're standing on the summit of a large hill near Promontory, Utah.
0:43.9	You shield your eyes from the midday sun as you and dozens of your fellow railroad workers toast in celebration.
0:50.2	You've just witnessed the ceremonial golden spike being driven into the final rail of the Transcontinental Railroad, and your head is swirling with excitement.
0:59.2	You take a swig from a bottle of whiskey and then hand it to your friend standing beside you.
1:03.8	He gives you a nod of thanks.
1:05.5	You know, while I was breaking my back trying to dig this damn thing, I didn't think this day would ever come.
1:10.5	I'm sure glad I was wrong.
1:12.1	Me too. For the last two years, it feels like I've done nothing but swing a sledgehammer, but here we are at last.
1:17.9	Your friend hands the bottle of whiskey back to you, and you gesture in the direction of a photographer
1:22.2	who's setting up his equipment. Well, it looks like they're going to try and memorialize the moment with a picture. Maybe we'll get in the
1:28.1	paper. Well, that would be something. I bet my wife and boy would be so proud. Well, come on, let's make
1:33.4	sure we're not left out. You and your friend make your way over to two large locomotive engines
1:38.3	that have been positioned facing each other on the track to mark the occasion and squeeze into
1:42.6	the crowd surrounding them.
1:47.8	Just then, though, you notice a group of Chinese workers standing to the side.
1:49.7	You think they're going to get in the picture, too?
1:52.5	How should I know? They'll do whatever they want, I suppose.
	...

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