First they learned about what it took to grade the land for the rails. The kids were amazed that they could move so much earth with no power tools! They were also dismayed to learn how many people had to work so hard to make it happen.
Here's the actual entrance to the site. We all loved the sign - it was not to prove to be the norm (most we would see would be nice, but none so personal)...
A replica cast from the original spike mold...
We started off watching the 20 minute historical video. Sean got some of it, but Kayl was engrossed. She had no idea of the hardships the men building the railroad had. When it talked about the miners digging the tunnel through granite, at a rate of 8 inches a day, she held up her hand and said, "but that's only that far!"
After the movie, we walked through the visitor center looking at all of the displays, but also the kids were working on the booklet to get their Junior Ranger badges. (This is a cool service of the NPS. Click here to learn more...) When they completed it, Ranger David made a big deal of it - complete with an announcement to the whole visitor's center and an official swearing in ceremony!
EXPLORE. LEARN. PROTECT.
Out back they had the replicas of the trains and the spike location. This was very cool, even though it was 'look, but don't touch'. We were told that on Saturdays there was a whole troop of reinactors who do the driving of the spike. Bummer...
There was a special polished tie for the 4 - yes 4 - special spikes. We learned inside that each spike was for a specific founding group/person. The polished tie and the 4 spikes were driven for the celebration, then removed and replaced with regular ones. Of course, these are replicas - the originals are all in museums...
"The last tie laid on the completion of the Pacific Railway, May 1869."
The kiddos with one of the trains - the Jupiter, which made its run out from California. It was great to see these replicas of the old steam engines up close and personal.
Then we actually got to see one of the trains in action! They were putting them away for the night, and it had to back down the line to get on a side track so it could go to the shed. The cool part - even though they were just putting the train away for the night, the engineers were decked out in period costume and ran things as if it were a real, live railway! For guys who are volunteering their time, we really appreciate the 'extra mile' they go...
Those reinactors have a great job!
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