The Path from Oregon through Wyoming
Idaho through Utah
- Getting on the road early on October 2, 2003, we were treated to a beautiful
sunrise! It’s good to have the camera handy when such a beautiful sight appears!
Along the way, we saw the sign for Golden Spike National Historic Site.
- Heading down
the side road to see where the last spike was driven connecting the Central Pacific
from the West, and the Union Pacific from the East, we came across Thiokol. This is
where they build rocket motors and the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. One was
even displayed out front!
- I was quite surprised, to say the least, when we spotted the building where the rocket
propellant was manufactured...there were emergency exits on all sides of the building
with SLIDES for a quick exit!! Wow! I wonder if they get hazard pay?
- At the Golden Spike Site, we visited a nice little visitor’s center and stood in the
spot where the last spike was driven in, on May 10, 1869, connecting the railways.
Of course the original gold and silver spikes were not there, having long been removed
and put in museums. The original golden spike is at Stanford University. Leland Stanford
was the first president of the Central Pacific Railroad, California’s Governor from
1864-1866, U.S. Senator in 1885 and in 1891 he founded Stanford University.
Wyoming
- Is this the Highway to Heaven?
- Stopping off in Cheyenne, the State’s Capitol, we toured the Capitol Building and
grounds, discovering this replica of the Liberty Bell found in Philadelphia.
