Today I took the kids to the Golden Spike National Park. My older kids love watching the television show, Hell on Wheels, so going to see the place where both trains united and became one was a perfect activity. The kids were able to see and learn about the two train engines that meet, Engine #119 for the Pacific Railroad and the Jupiter for the Union. They learned about the Chinese immigrants that worked tireless hours and several lost their lives building the railroad for the Pacific. Then they learned about the Irish immigrants who worked hours upon hours building the railroad for the Union. They were able to see the simple tools they worked with and how the track was laid. They leaned about Thomas Durrant, Vice President of the Union Railroad and Governor Leland Stafford, President of the Pacific Railroad. The highlight for Sam and Olivia was earning their junior ranger badge. Izzy and Lexi liked watching the movie and going to the site where the golden spike was driven in to combine the two railroads. Lexi and Izzy also earned their junior ranger badges. I learned to buy gas in the small town of Corrine before heading to the park because it is way out there and if you only have a fourth a tank, you will find yourself coasting on fumes back into town, headed home after a fun day.
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