“This is going to help us have a party and celebrate like it’s 1869,” Gov. Gary Herbert said at an event that the Salt Lake Tribune covered.
Union Pacific confirmed Friday that its contribution will help fund the celebration. Activities mentioned Thursday include educational programs in public schools, a cultural celebration the evening of May 10 at the Latter Day Saints Conference Center in Salt Lake City, and a special symphony performance. Starting in late January and going through May, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts will host an exhibit of more than 200 photos and stereographs of the construction work made by famed early railroad photographers A.J. Russell and Alfred A. Hart.
The National Park Service plans to re-enact the driving of the golden spike on May 10 at Promontory Summit, and UP has said it plans to bring 4-8-4 No. 844 and newly restored Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 to Ogden for the celebration.
Trains magazine is creating special coverage in its regular editions for the first half of 2019 and will publish a special issue, Journey to Promontory, in January. A PBS video, Journey to Promontory, will be available late this year.
