Near Lathrop in San Joaquin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

First Transcontinental Railroad

Site of Completion of Pacific Railroad

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 11, 2006

1. First Transcontinental Railroad Marker

Inscription.
The construction of the San Joaquin River Bridge completed the last link of the Transcontinental Railroad. Building had simultaneously proceeded from the Bay Area and Sacramento and met at the San Joaquin River. The first train crossed the bridge on September 8, 1869.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 780-7

Erected 1969 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation local civic and historical organizations (November 8, 1969). (Marker Number 780-7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Landmarks • Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the First Transcontinental Railroad, and the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1992.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 37° 47.221′ N, 121° 18.34′ W. Marker was near Lathrop, California, in San Joaquin County. It was on South Manthey Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the entrance to Mossdale Crossing Park and Launching Facilty. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Lathrop CA 95330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the San Joaquin Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was 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 found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: The Comet – 1846 – First Sail Launch (here, next to this marker); America's First Coast-to-Coast Road (approx. 2.3 miles away); Lathrop Veteran’s Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Lathrop (approx. 2.8 miles away); Banta Inn (approx. 4.3 miles away); California Chicory Works (approx. 5.3 miles away); Finley’s Bar and Grill (approx. 6 miles away); Lincoln Highway (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lathrop.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Shooting of David S. Terry (was approx. 2.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . California Landmark Foundation. The foundation is raising money to replace missing California Historical Landmark plaques. (Submitted on December 12, 2024.)

Additional commentary.
1. The First Transcontinental Railroad Journey
The American rail network was not yet connected to the Atlantic or the Pacific. What was heralded as the Transcontinental Railroad merely connected Omaha and Sacramento. In November 1869 the Sacramento line was extended to San Francisco Bay at Oakland.

At first, trains had to be ferried across the Missouri River to complete a transcontinental

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 11, 2006

2. First Transcontinental Railroad Marker

This marker shares a base with The Comet-1846-First Sail Launch marker.

journey. The Hannibal Bridge in Kansas City was the first bridge to cross the Missouri, it was completed in July, 1869. In August 1870 the Kansas Pacific connected to the Denver Pacific line at Strasburg, Colorado and the first true Atlantic to Pacific railroad was completed. Council Bluffs was directly connected to the East Coast rail network upon completion of the Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge in 1872.

On June 4, 1876 an express train named the Transcontinental Express arrived in San Francisco via the Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after it left from New York City.

Source: Transcontinental Railroad - tcrr.com

— Submitted September 16, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

2. Date of the first train to cross the bridge
The first train crossed the bridge on September 6, 1869 - not on September 8, 1869, which was inscribed on the marker. This fact was reported in the Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 37, Number 5755, 7 September 1869 with the byline "From Stockton - September 6th" and the quote "The Western Pacific Railroad bridge across the San Joaquin River was finished to-day [September 6th], and three trains of cars crossed it, one for San Jose and two for Alameda." This was the first through train from Sacramento

San Joaquin River Railroad Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, May 11, 2006

3. San Joaquin River Railroad Bridge

leaving at 10 am and arriving at Alameda at 10:30 pm, with one train switching off at Vallejo Mills (now Niles) to San Jose - as reported in Daily Alta California, Volume 21, Number 7110, 7 September 1869. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted December 17, 2019, by VK Wong of San Francisco, California.

Photographed by Craig Vincent, circa October 2009

4. San Joaquin River Railroad Bridge

Photographed by Craig Vincent, April 5, 2010

5. San Joaquin River Railroad Bridge

The Marker is Missing image. Click for full size.

January 30, 2010

6. The Marker is Missing

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 5,238 times since then and 78 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week September 21, 2008. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 12, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4. submitted on March 7, 2010, by Craig Vincent of Stockton, California. 5. submitted on April 6, 2010, by Craig Vincent of Stockton, California. 6. submitted on February 4, 2010. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.