Photographs of groundbreaking ceremonies
(1) The beginning of the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad at the groundbreaking ceremony at Front and K Streets in Sacramento, California on January 8, 1863.
(2) The beginning of the construction of the California Central Railroad at the groundbreaking ceremony in Sacramento, California on June 1, 1858.
(3) The beginning of the construction of the Union Pacific Railway at the groundbreaking ceremony in Wyandotte (Kansas City), Kansas on September 7, 1863.
(4) The beginning of the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad at the groundbreaking ceremony on the Missouri River bluffs nearby Omaha on December 2, 1863.
Is it correct that no photographs exist of any of these groundbreaking ceremonies?
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 2:05 PM
6 Comments:
From: "Glenn Willumson" Gwillumson@arts.ufl.edu
I do not know of any contemporary images (photography, drawing, popular press engraving, etc.) of any of these ceremonies. There are, as we recently saw on this discussion group, illustrations made years later that "recreated" the groundbreaking. From this early time period, the only groundbreaking photograph that I know is Russell's photograph of the groundbreaking for the Mormon spur to Salt Lake City. [Russell stereoview #483. "Breaking Ground for Utah R. R."] I would be very interested to know if others know of any pictures of these events.
—Glenn Willumson
From: "Kevin Bunker" mikadobear45@yahoo.com
It's probably best to say that if photographs of these key events (on the CPRR at least) were ever taken, they have not yet surfaced. It seems quite strange that none have yet been discovered, or that perhaps none were taken, but ... the question remains open to the best of my knowledge.
—Kevin
From: "Don Snoddy" ddsnoddy@cox.net
I know of no photos of either ceremony at Kansas City or Omaha.
—Don
From: KyleWyatt@aol.com
I won't say no photos exist of those events – but I certainly am not aware of any such photos.
—Kyle
From: "Wendell Huffman" wwhuffma@clan.lib.nv.us
I cannot address points 3 and 4, but I've never seen photos relating to the first two events. Given the state of photography in 1858 and 1863, its expense and trouble, it is entirely understandable that no photographs were made. The primary reason we have images of the CPRR under construction is that the company was anxious to demonstrate to potential investors on the East coast that they were really building a railroad – the company paid for those images.
—Wendell
"Inauguration of the Pacific Railway.—A Sacramento, Cal. despatch, dated Jan. 8, [1863] has the following particulars of the inauguration of the Pacific Railway:— At noon the California section of the Pacific Railroad was inaugurated with imposing ceremonies. Both branches of the Legislature adjourned in honor of the occasion. Distinguished representatives from nearly every portion of the State participated in the proceeding, which were witnessed by a vast concourse of people. Gov. Sanford [sic] presided. At precisely 12 30 p. m., the Governor struck in the spade for the railroad embankment in front of the city. Appropriate and eloquent speeches were delivered by Gov. Sanford [sic], Judge Crane, President pro tem of the Senate, and various other members of the State Legislature. All allusions to the great work as a bond of union as well as a national highway of trade, were received with enthusiastic cheers. Chas. Crocker, of the firm of Crocker & Co., contractors for the first 18 miles of the road, announced that all the arrangements had been completed, and that the work of grading the route and building the bridge over American River would proceed without delay. Sacramento wears a holiday aspect in honor of the inauguration of the enterprise that is to bind California to the Union in a closer embrace." —The Boston Cultivator, January 17, 1863.
Courtesy of Steve Goldman Historical Newspapers.
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