HIGHLIGHT: UTAH
Promontory: Music, bells and cannon fire rang out Friday at a remote spot in the desert where the final spikes of the Transcontinental Railroad were hammered 150 years ago. An estimated 20,000 people swarmed to the celebration at Golden Spike National Historic Park. Visitors came from as far as China, many decked out in old-fashioned garb. The event included a re-enactment of an iconic “champagne toast” photo of railroad workers perched atop locomotives. The festivities also highlighted the vital contribution of the Chinese workers who put in long hours in brutal conditions and haven’t always received their proper due.