Roseville in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Roseville

First Transcontinental Railroad

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. First Transcontinental Railroad Marker

Inscription.
Central Pacific graders reached Junction, now Roseville, on November 23, 1863, crossing the line of the California Central, which began building northward from Folsom in May 1858. That line was abandoned in 1868. CP’s track reached Junction April 25, 1864 when trains began making daily runs 18 miles to and from Sacramento. Now Roseville is a major railroad distribution center.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 780-1.

Erected 1989 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Conference of California Historical Societies and The Placer County Historical Society. (Marker Number 780-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the First Transcontinental Railroad series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 25, 1864.

Location. 38° 45.068′ N, 121° 17.147′ W. Marker is in Roseville, California, in Placer County. It can be reached from Church Street just east of Washington Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 133 Church St, Roseville CA 95678, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

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within walking distance of this marker: Roseville's First Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Roseville Tribune and Register Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Owl Club Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago West Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Italy Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Roseville Methodist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Onyx Club (about 300 feet away); McRae Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roseville.

More about this marker. The plaque is mounted on a new apartment building, on the side facing away from Washington Boulevard.

Photographed by George Midwin

2. First Transcontinental Railroad Marker

The plaque is on the brick wall behind a tree.

Marker - Old Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 4, 2008

3. Marker - Old Location

Photographed by Syd Whittle, September 4, 2008

4. Marker - Old Location

The mural on the building has been changed. The marker was relocated close to the mural after construction of a new apartment building here.

Roseville Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 1, 2006

5. Roseville Depot

Located across the street from the marker.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, March 1, 2006

6. Roseville Depot

Today it’s an Amtrak station..

Displayed in the Theodore Judah Wing - Roseville Carnegie Library Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2010

7. Displayed in the Theodore Judah Wing - Roseville Carnegie Library Museum

Where were you on Saturday April 28, 1973?
On that day, a train loaded with artillery shells headed to Mare Island Naval Station exploded at the south end of the Roseville rail yard, destroying the town of Antelope.
The explosion was felt from downtown Sacramento to Auburn, and shells continued to explode for about 24 hours. Unexploded shells were found buried in the area through the 1980’s.
Though no one was killed, many were injured by flying glass as windows shattered in their homes. A piece of one of the exploded boxcars holds this sign. Behind you is one of the exploded shells.

Exploded Shell on Display at the Roseville Carnegie Library Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2010

8. Exploded Shell on Display at the Roseville Carnegie Library Museum

See Photo #6 for information and details.

The 1973 Explosion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, October 21, 2010

9. The 1973 Explosion

Dominating the Judah wing of the Roseville Carnegie Library Museum is a working n-scale (1/160) model of the Roseville rail yard with historic roundhouses, historic downtown Roseville, and the Pacific Fruit Express Ice-Making Facility.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,136 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on August 5, 2024. 3, 4. submitted on September 5, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5, 6. submitted on November 4, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 23, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.