The 14-karat golden spike, placed by President Warren Harding in 1923 to mark the completion of the Alaska Railroad, is being auctioned by Christie's. The spike, which has been in private hands for the past century, symbolizes a significant milestone in Alaskan history.
The 14-karat golden spike was placed by President Warren Harding in Nenana in July 1923 after the construction of the railroad had been completed.Garry Farnham, Museum Director of the Nenana Depot, says its completion marked a new era for the state.
“It was quite a milestone. We had 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks.” He explains, “It was quite the feat.”to build the Alaska Railroad was around $35 million. It took almost a decade to finish. For the last hundred years, the spike has been in the hands of multiple private owners. Now, Christie’s is preparing to rehome it again.The golden spike was presented to Col. Frederick Mears by the City of Anchorage upon completion of the Alaska Railroad.The legacy of the golden spike lives on today, as the Alaska Railroad continues to operate from the south-central region throughout the interior.
“The railroad actually works quite well with the folks that live here.” He says, “we’re happy to have it.”See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to
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