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Asa Whitney proposed his idea of a transcontinental railroad in front of Congress in January of 1845. It isn't declined or approved.
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James K. Polk announces there is gold in Oregon and people begin to move west.
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Gold-rich California becomes a state.
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Congress approved the funds for the railroad
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Congress pushed legislation that allowed for the construction of the railroad
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On both coasts the first constuction of the railroads began.
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Cental Pacific and Union Pacific rail lines met in Promontory Summit, Utah and a golden spike was struck in by a silver mallet.
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Three lines were completed in 1883. The Northern Pacific RR stretched from Lake Superior to Portland, Oregon (September 8, 1883); from Atchison, Kansas to Los Angeles, California was the Santa Fe (March 3, 1883); and the Southern Pacific connected Los Angeles with New Orleans (February 5, 1883).
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The fifth and final line of the Transcontinental Railroad is completed. The Great Northern line runs from Sain Paul, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington.
