Near Park Valley in Box Elder County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Terrace
Inscription.
Terrace was the largest of the Central Pacific towns built in Utah. It was established in April 1869 as the maintenance and repair headquarters for the entire Salt Lake division. The railroad facilities here included and 8-track switchyard, a 16-stall roundhouse, and a water tank.
The population center supported businesses, store, a school, a public bath, and a justice of the peace (who also ran the saloon). Although all water had to be piped in by an aqueduct constructed by Chinese work crews, there were tree-lined streets in the residential area and a nice town square.
At its peak, the townsite had a population of about 1,000, including around 500 Chinese occupants. The Chinese were generally excluded from the census, and some tallies counted registered voters only.
Terrace was almost completely dependent on the railroad and began an inevitable decline after the Lucin Cutoff was completed in 1904. There also appears to have been a serious fire in the early twentieth century, which hastened the process. The fire was possible caused by a collision between two trains, one carrying explosive black powder.
Extensive evidence of the town can still be seen, including the turntable depression, remnants of roundhouse stalls, cellar depressions, and the cemetery to the east. Please do no disturb these historic resources so that others may enjoy them.
Erected by Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Transcontinental Railroad series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1869.
Location. 41° 30.192′ N, 113° 31.002′ W. Marker is near Park Valley, Utah, in Box Elder County. Marker is on Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Park Valley UT 84329, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Terrace Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Terrace (approx. 1.3 miles away); Watercress (approx. 2.4 miles away); Red Dome Siding (approx. 4.3 miles away); Walden Siding (approx. 4.9 miles away); Matlin (approx. 9 miles away); Bovine (approx. 10.6 miles away).
More about this marker. The Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway is a 90 mile dirt/gravel track on top of or beside the old Central Pacific Rail Road grade between Old Lucin and Promontory Summit. Other than markers designating old station and sidings there are few, if any, road signs identifying any of the side roads. Any other road names or numbers use on this marker page have been taken Google Maps which identifies the Byway variously as Golden Spike Loop Road, Old Railroad Grade Road, Salt Wells Road, etc. Neither are there any mileage posts, though one could do the arithmetic using the "Mile ... from San Francisco" on the markers to determine distances. Nor is there any mail delivery, so no street addresses either.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 267 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 13, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.