The transcontinental railroad history of railroads and maps. We should note that this lesson draws on a pbs documentary video that is not directly available on the site. The first transcontinental railroad in the united states was built in the 1860s. A map of the original route of the transcontinental. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 paperback november 6, 2001. Tales of the race to complete the transcontinental railroad are often full of interesting. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. The idea for the transcontinental railroad was conceived even before the oregon. January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california. See the map on the next page for the closest services.
Map publishing firms perhaps 30 percent of the commercially produced railroad maps were published by the new york city publishing house established by joseph hutchins colton in 1831. See more ideas about westward expansion, social studies and american history. See more ideas about transcontinental, railroad, central pacific railroad. Military railroad during the civil war, and in 1868, he set out to document the union pacifics journey to. For more information contact us by phone, email, or come and see our staff at the visitor center. As they stretched the rails in every direction, the railroad moguls of the nineteenth century changed the face of america forever. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. A transcontinental railroad or transcontinental railway is a contiguous network railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. The books and lesson are available for levels z1 and z2. Recently i have been introduced to the history of the transcontinental railroad through reading ambroses book nothing like it in the world. The trip across the overland trails followed by settlers could take four to six months, however, and were treacherous on foot or by wagon.
Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. The possibility of railroads connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts was discussed in the congress even before the treaty with england which settled the question of the oregon boundary in 1846. While there were many who put great time, energy, and money into the venture his unyielding efforts in what he called his railroad central pacific laid the groundwork and firmly believed an acceptable route with manageable grades could be built through californias seemingly. Resources and history about the railroad spike 150. Post civil war united states, 18651892 map can be downloaded in. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. Three coloring pages for the transcontinental railroad. Have the students create a 3d topographical map of the transcontinental railroad. Use this lesson plan to teach students about the history and impact of the transcontinental railroad. Nea transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades k5.
Railroad maps, 18281900, a subset of maps, is a collection of maps that represent an. Transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and teachers abraham lincoln signed the pacific railroad bill in 1862. A map of the original route of the transcontinental railroad. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. Activity three in the lesson asks students to compare the construction of the transcontinental railroad from a variety of perspectives, including those of chinese laborers. First, the students should use the play dough to model the land features of the united states. Railroad backcountry byway activity book focuses on cultural resources. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. Russell had been the official photographer of the u. The impact of the transcontinental railroad nehedsitement. Students will have the opportunity to practice the skills of identifying main ideas and details and summarizing to understand the text. Includes links to photos, maps and other railroad related sites.
Transcontinental railroad bureau of land management. Transcontinental railroad uen utah education network. This activity provides a short reading on the transcontinental railroad, a foldable activity, read and reflect questions, and a map activity. History of railroads and maps a detailed look at surveying and mapping railroads during the period of western expansion. Fun pony express lesson for kids 123 homeschool 4 me. The ceremony for the driving of the golden spike at promontory summit, utah on may 10, 1869. The transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and teachers. Once the railroad was completed, it slowly ended the more hazardous stagecoach and wagon caravans.
This firm was known the world over for the quality, quantity, and variety of its publications, including maps, atlases, and school geographies. See especially the section on the transcontinental railroad. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. Explore the different railroad lines and learn about the hardships workers faced. With your class view a political map of the united states in 1860, such as the one at. Lesson ideas for use with the picture book coolies, by yin. Lesson plan on the transcontinental railroad for grades 612, with activities that could be. The print book contains 48 pages and includes pictures.
With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. Montague, central pacific railroad, shakes hands with grenville m. Golden spike offers two junior ranger activity books for visitors to use as they explore the site. Railroad maps, 18281900 collection connections teacher. The transcontinental railroad in childrens books westward. The transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and. Sep 30, 20 the 1st transcontinental railroad for kids we also learned how the railroad expanded between 18631869 to connect the eastern united states with the west to form the first transcontinental railroad. The first transcontinental railroad has been called the engineering marvel of the 19th century and a flatout swindle. We invite you to join us in our investigation of the transcontinental railroad. The transcontinental railroad weber county library. Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. In order to complete the activity book, be sworn in as a junior ranger, and receive the junior ranger badge visitors should plan at least 3040 minutes.
Commemorative activities continued throughout the day with the. Created by the utah division of state history antiquities program, this story map offers historical context on how the construction of the railroad. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad or over those owned or controlled by multiple railway companies along a continuous route. We learned about the transcontinental railroad by reading several different books. Each reacts to the advent of the transcontinental railroad from a different. A unit study units amid all the stories of the golden spike and the crosscountry race between the union pacific and the central pacific, many have lost sight of the facts behind the building of the transcontinental railroad. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. How did the transcontinental railroad change utahs economy. Celebrity status aside, the relative sales of the two books were undoubtedly influenced by the fact that empire express is twice the length of the ambrose book. The transcontinental railroad s western leg was known as the central pacific, the vision of theodore d. Its a relatively short reflection on the period of time wherein the railroad was conceived, begun, accomplished, and completed. Students analyze archival material such as photos, documents, and posters, to understand the who was involved in constructing, and the lasting phenomenon of.
There are many misconceptions surrounding the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Harriet tubman activities and the underground railroad. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In this lesson, guide students through an exploration of the context, causes, and effects of the transcontinental railroad, and help them practice identifying the main idea and supporting details in a nonfiction text. Transcontinental railroad fact sheet prior to the opening of the transcontinental railroad, it took four to six months to travel 2000 miles from the missouri river to california by wagon. Lesson plan from the federal reserve that uses the book and railroad theme to. Railroads across the country students in grades k2 learn to read and trace transcontinental routes on a nineteenthcentury railroad map of the. By 1881, it was routine to travel by train from eastern cities. This act was the approval and funding to build the transcontinental railroad. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades k5 nea. The transcontinental railroad history reference center we the people expansion and reform we the people we the people series compass point books author.
This book provides a fastpaced and exciting look at many aspects of the building of the transcontinental railroad. The building of the transcontinental line across the vast mountains, plains, and deserts of the west was, undoubtedly, a spectacle to behold, and this is the book that puts you there. Building the transcontinental railroad a brief history in printable format. Along with the lesson plans prepared by the teachers in the wasatch range writing project, which are available here in pdf format, please visit any weber county library location, for a wide. Reenactment of last spike ceremony for gradeschoolage and middleschoolage students. Two private companies were hired to build a railroad that would connect railroads coast to coast. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. As part of my nearconstant study of all things american history, i listened to the audible edition of the transcontinental railroad. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroadthe investors who risked their businesses and money. Nea transcontinental telegraph and railroad, grades 68.
These map panels illustrating the route of the transcontinental railroad are superimposed on top of current cities, place names, and interstate highways. A timeline history of the transcontinental railroads in north america. The building of the transcontinental railroad is a story of many parts. On may 10, 1869, the last spike of the transcontinental railroad was.
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