On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the “golden spike” was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. And America was transformed.

Suddenly, the country was united in a way it never had been, and train travel sparked imaginations in small towns and big cities, among folk who desired adventure and businessmen who saw fortunes to be made. The sound of a train whistle was the soundtrack of happy reunions and tearful farewells. It heralded the arrival of mail, supplies and change.

The train became more than the go-to mode of transport for people and goods. It was a proud achievement of engineering vision, technical ingenuity and sweat. It was a cultural force that sparked the creative imaginations of storytellers in songs, movies and novels. Railways provided jobs for thousands of Americans. The train station became a focal point of every community, from New York City’s Pennsylvania Station to the tiny stations that dotted rural America.

Now, 139 years after the golden spike connected east and west, there’s never been a better time to take the train. Huge crowds and the frustrations that go with them burden our highways and airports. And at a time when we all share the same pressing concerns about ecology and energy conservation, trains are a more energy-efficient mode of travel than either autos or airplanes. Riding the rails is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not to mention meet interesting people and see breathtaking scenery.

The National Train Day events on May 10th culminated in a coast-to-coast celebration of the way trains connect people and places. In New York’s Penn Station and Union Stations in Washington, DC, Chicago and Los Angeles, train enthusiasts and families gathered as a community to tour historic and contemporary trains, sing along with Sarah Bareilles, Drake Bell and the World Classic Rockers and get in the Magic Circle with The Harlem Globetrotters, enter to win prizes and fantastic Amtrak Vacations trips, and much more. We’ll be posting plenty of pictures from the various events. You’ll be able to check them out on the individual city event pages.

The spirit of National Train Day resides at the Golden Spike National Historical site in Utah, which commemorates the achievement of those who created the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. It was there that the final spike was driven into the tie that joined the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, and it’s part of a network of nearly 400 important sites that’s cared for by the National Park Service. And like all of the places you can visit within the National Park system, the Golden Spike National Historical site is alive with history, recreational adventures and beauty. Find out more about our national parks at www.nps.gov.