1863-1869 – Central Pacific Railroad Hires Chinese Laborers and the Union Pacific Hires Irish Laborers to Construct the First Transcontinental Railroad

“The Central Pacific hires Chinese laborers and the Union Pacific hires Irish laborers to construct the first transcontinental railroad, which would stretch from San Francisco to Omaha, allowing continuous travel by rail from coast to coast. The First Transcontinental Railroad [begins construction in 1863 and] is completed when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific lines meet at Promontory Summit, Utah (May 10, 1869).”