Union Pacific
Volume I, 1862–1893
By Maury Klein.
Softbound, 820 pages, 117 halftones, 5 line art, 5 7/8 x 9". 2006.
"The history of the railroad that connected the coasts and unified the United States.
"The Union Pacific Railroad is renowned as America’s first transcontinental railroad and is one of the strongest companies in the railroad industry today. The laying of the golden spike in Promontory, Utah, in 1869 marked not only the opening of the continent to settlement but also the transformation of the United States from an agricultural nation to an industrial one.
"Maury Klein, America’s foremost railroad historian, re-creates the powerful personalities and dramatic events that led to the construction of this legendary railroad. Fully illustrated with over one hundred historic photographs and maps, Union Pacific details the feat of engineering and human strength that conquered the terrain of the desert and mountains and also the colorful wheelings and dealings that were waged in executive boardrooms in New York and Boston and in the chambers of Congress as dreamers and scoundrels, politicians and patriots forged a pioneering enterprise in transportation.
“Klein has provided the best summary available of the way in which the road was built, financed, and frequently mismanaged.” —Barrons
“Maury Klein has done a splendid job of writing this thoroughly and compellingly detailed history.” —Chicago Tribune
"Maury Klein is professor of history at the University of Rhode Island. He is the author of several books as listed above."
