American Experience · SEASON 15
Transcontinental Railroad
Episode 7 · 2003-01-27
- Documentary
Episode overview
Charting the race between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to construct a transcontinental railroad to link the U.S. It ended May 10, 1869, in Promontory Point, Utah. The construction was "the engineering marvel of the 19th century -- and a flat-out swindle,” says narrator Michael Murphy. It was also "the technological manifestation of Manifest Destiny,” says historian Wendell Huffman, one of the program's commentators. And it sealed the fate of the Plains Indians. When the final spike was in place, Murphy says, "America could take its place as the first nation in the world."
55 minutes
Season 15 episodes
1. Jimmy Carter (1): Jimmy Who?2002-11-11
2. Jimmy Carter (2): Hostage2002-11-12
3. Chicago: City of the Century (1): Mudhole to Metropolis2003-01-13
4. Chicago: City of the Century (2): The Revolution Has Begun2003-01-14
5. Chicago: City of the Century (3): Battle for Chicago2003-01-15
6. The Murder of Emmett Till2003-01-20
7. Transcontinental Railroad2003-01-27
8. Partners of the Heart2003-02-10
9. The Pill2003-02-24
10. Daughter from Danang2003-04-07
11. Seabiscuit2003-04-21
12. Bataan Rescue2003-07-07
13. Murder at Harvard2003-07-14
