Judah Transcontinental Railroad
THAT THE WEST
MAY REMEMBER
THEODORE DEHONE JUDAH,
PIONEER, CIVIL ENGINEER, AND TIRELESS ADVOCATE
OF A GREAT TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD
--AMERICA'S FIRST--
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY, WHO, IN 1930, WERE CARRYING ON THE
WORK HE BEGAN IN 1860. HE CONVINCED FOUR SACRAMENTO MERCHANTS
THAT HIS PLAN WAS PRACTICABLE AND ENLISTED THEIR HELP.
GROUND WAS BROKEN FOR THE RAILROAD JANUARY 8, 1863,
AT THE FOOT OF K STREET, NEARBY
JUDAH DIED NOVEMBER 2, 1863.
THE ROAD WAS BUILT PAST THE SITE OF THIS MONUMENT, OVER THE LOFTY
SIERRA -- ALONG THE LINE OF JUDAH'S SURVEY -- TO A JUNCTION WITH THE
UNION PACIFIC AT PROMONTORY, UTAH, WHERE ON
MAY 10, 1896, THE "LAST SPIKE" WAS DRIVEN.