Hillsdale in Laramie County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Lathrop Hills

Surveyor for the First Transcontinental Railroad

— Killed by Indians —

Lathrop Hills Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 26, 2016

1. Lathrop Hills Marker

Caption: (top) Surveyors Camp: Locating the route of the Union Pacific, the first railroad to the Pacific Ocean

Inscription. On June 11, 1867, Lathrop Hills led a party of surveyors up the nearby Lodgepole Creek, staking out the location for the Union Pacific Railroad, the first transcontinental railroad. Hills was riding out in front of the group when he was attacked by Indians and killed. Within minutes his men drove off the Indians and later reported they found 19 arrow wounds in this body. He was 35.
Hills' work lived after him. By November 14, 1867, the tracklayers had reached Cheyenne and 18 months later a golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, completing the first railroad connection between the East and West and opening millions of acres for settlement. The railroad reduced travel time from the six months required by wagon train to five days from Omaha to San Francisco.

Erected by State of Wyoming.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is June 11, 1867.

Location. 41° 12.736′ N, 104° 28.713′ W. Marker is in Hillsdale, Wyoming, in Laramie County. Marker is on Coates Avenue near Main Street (County Route 215A), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1478 Coates Avenue, Hillsdale WY 82060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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Lathrop Hills Marker, reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 26, 2016

2. Lathrop Hills Marker, reverse

Captions: (top) "General Sherman" granddaddy of all motive power in use on the Union Pacific was a wood burner, Built by Danforth and Cooke of Paterson, New Jersey in 1864-65. It was brought to Omaha by steamboat in June, 1865.; (bottom) Union Pacific Railroad's DD-35 EMD 5,000 H.P. diesel units eastbound of Devil's Slide, Utah.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 26, 2016

3. Lathrop Hills Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 515 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.