On Friday, May 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Millcreek Common is hosting the Driving of the Spike: Jupiter Tour Whistle Stop event. This is the last opportunity to see the Golden Spike Monument in Salt Lake County.

A Public Art Piece Celebrating the Historic Golden Spike

The 43’ tall golden public art piece was inspired by the golden spike that was ceremoniously driven into a laurelwood railroad tie on May 10, 1869, in Promontory, Utah, to signal the completion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. The monument hosts reliefs depicting scenes of those who worked to build the railroad, the people and environment impacted by the railroad, and many others whose vision and support were instrumental in bringing this historic feat of human engineering to fruition.

The Driving of the Spike: Jupiter Tour brings attention to the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad’s portion of the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to Utah. Unable to find enough workers in California, the Central Pacific Railroad recruited thousands of Chinese laborers from the Chinese province of Guangdong. Using mostly hand tools and a dangerous mix of nitroglycerin and black powder, these workers chiseled and blasted through the granite fortress of the Sierra Nevada mountains to build 15 tunnels. They endured frostbite and avalanches that came with the harsh winters. More than one thousand Chinese workers are estimated to have lost their lives while building the railroad.

The Whistle Stop event at Millcreek Common

The Whistle Stop event at Millcreek Common is open to the public.

  • 12:30 - 9:00 PM - View the Golden Spike Monument and learn about Utah’s contribution to the transcontinental railroad
  • 12:30 - 6:00 PM - FREE roller skate admission ($5 skate rental), Golden Spike art project, themed bandana giveaways, games, monument puzzles, and music
  • 1:30 PM -  Lecture: What We Know About the Chinese Railroad Worker Experience
    Presented by Chris Merritt, Utah State Historic Preservation Officer
  • 3:30 PM - Digital re-air of What We Know About the Chinese Railroad Worker Experience
  • 5:00 - 9:00 PM - Food available at Millcreek Common restaurants, Night Market, and New Americans International Market at the Public Market
  • 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM - FREE roller skate admission ($5 skate rental), STEM activities, train rides, and music by DJ John Smith*
  • 9:00 PM - Golden Spike Monument send off

 *Evening Performances every 30 minutes beginning at 6 p.m.: Canyon Rim Jump Team, “As One” Skate Loop Legends Performance, History Fun Facts, and Golden Spike Skate Train

Don’t miss the final opportunity to see the giant golden wonder up-close, learn about the history told through the reliefs on the sculpture, and enjoy a fun-filled day at Millcreek Common. 

You can find more information about other stops on the Driving of the Spike: Jupiter Tour, at www.spike150.org/driving. Follow the tour on Instagram @spike150utah.