New York Times
New York Times: On This Day: Credit Moibiler Scandal
See a political cartoon of Thomas Nast decrying the Credit Mobilier scandal, and read a concise account of what it was, who was involved, and why it was such a scandal.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway is the largest and longest railway in Canada. An in-depth profile of the company and its history are included on this website, as well as the CNR today. Also looks at the different kinds of trains, cars, and...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Balancing Sources
This is from an American history course designed for teachers to enrich their knowledge and their teaching practice. This interactive is a set of nine exercises where teachers evaluate primary resources related to a specific event in...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Railroads in United States, 1910
A map from 1910 of the United States showing the railway network and connecting steamship lines. This map distinguishes the transcontinental railroads and secondary lines, and shows the standardized time zones used in 1910. The clock...
Curated OER
The Locomotive Governor Stanford
Provides a short description of the development of the transcontinental railroad and the "Big Four" behind the construction. From the San Francisco News Letter of September 1925.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The New West, 1889 1912
A map of the western United States showing the rapid growth of the New West between 1885 and 1912 during the presidencies from Benjamin Harrison to Howard Taft. The map is color-coded to show the States admitted to the Union before the...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cpr Photographic History Museum: Nitroglycerine
Discusses the use of nitroglycerine in the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad.
Stanford University
Stanford University: Spatial History: Distribution of Union Pacific Stockholders
This map reveals the way ownership of the Union Pacific concentrated in New England and New York. It also shows how the West got a federally financed railroad, and the east got the insider networks which controlled it.
Other
Union Pacific: Historical Overview
Provides a historical overview of the Union Pacific Railroad under the following sections: building a road, financing, construction, and post-construction.
Other
Minnesota Historical Society: James J. Hill House: James J. Hill
A biography of railroad magnate, James J. Hill. Learn about the life and legacy of this railroad executive who was a pivotal force in the transformation of the Northwest, earning the name "The Empire Builder."
Digital History
Digital History: Civil War in Kansas [Pdf]
The Compromise of 1850 did not solve all the slavery issues in the territories, which was not surprising. Read about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, put forth by Sen. Stephan Douglas, who proposed that the issue be decided by popular...
Curated OER
Re Union and the Railroad
A speech and an engraving that illustrate how the railroad helped to unite the country after the Civil War.
Curated OER
Photo of Mark Hopkins the Railroad Magnate
Provides a short description of the development of the transcontinental railroad and the "Big Four" behind the construction. From the San Francisco News Letter of September 1925.
Curated OER
Golden Spike at the Stanford University Museum
In-depth look at the ceremony at Promontory Point upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The author discusses the preparation for the ceremony, the use of four ceremonial spikes, and what became of them. From an article in...
Harp Week
Harpweek: The American West: Buffalo Hunting
An engraving and short article about "sport" hunting of buffalo from an 1867 Harper's Weekly magazine.
Other
Paul Yee: 'Ghost Train' Teaching Guide [Pdf]
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his book "Ghost Train" provides a summary of the story, discussion questions and classroom activities. The book explores the Chinese-Canadians' perspective on settling in a new country, and...
Other
Great Northern Historical Society: Great Northern History
Read about the Great Northern Railway, a rail line conceived of and built by James J. Hill. Find out how Hill built his rail business by encouraging settlement along the rail line.
Other
Literature Learning Ladders: Laurence Yep "Dragon's Gate"
This site offers an overview of Lawrence Yep's "Dragon's Gate." Includes resource links but only a few work in the archived version of the site.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Cprr History Museum: Eastward to Promontory
This site from the Central Pacific Railroad provides an extensive and comprehensive article about surveying the route for the railroad, the problems with construction, and the men behind the idea of the railroad. Hyperlinks to additional...
Chicago History Museum
Chicago History Museum: Pullman Luxury Rail Car
Read about the luxurious rail car George Pullman introduced that made transcontinental rail travel so desirable.
Curated OER
Albert D. Richardson
Contains a series of letters published in May and June, 1869, in the "New York Tribune" written by Albert D. Richardson, one of the first people to travel on the transcontinental railroad from coast to coast.
Curated OER
Bradley & Rolofson
Contains a series of letters published in May and June, 1869, in the "New York Tribune" written by Albert D. Richardson, one of the first people to travel on the transcontinental railroad from coast to coast.
Curated OER
Colfax Party Cdv. Courtesy Bill S. Lee.
Contains a series of letters published in May and June, 1869, in the "New York Tribune" written by Albert D. Richardson, one of the first people to travel on the transcontinental railroad from coast to coast.
Curated OER
Mormons
A chapter from John J. Stewart's "The Iron Trail to the Golden Spike" about Utah and the transcontinental railroad.