In spite of the
Civil War, Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 giving permission to begin the first transcontinental railroad. One of the central routes was chosen; from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California.
The Union Pacific Railroad (1,038 miles long) began constructing a line west of Omaha while the Central Pacific (742 miles long) started east from Sacramento. After incredible hardships the two railroads were joined together at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869. The last spike driven into the rail ties was made of gold.