The West the Railroads Made March 20, 2010

Take a look at what the iron road created in The West the Railroads Made. Learn about how this one form of transportation reshaped the West and helped create a truly continental nation. The exhibit recounts how the idea of a Pacific railroad grew through the 1840s and 50s, how it came to life in the second half of the 19th century, and how it survived challenges faced in the late 20th century. It features rare railroad ephemera, photographs, paintings, and other three-dimensional pieces. Organized by the Washington State Historical Society and the Barriger Railroad Library at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.