Category Archives: Geography
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
Orville Hickman Browning, Secretary of the Interior during the Andrew Johnson administration, had the responsibility of issuing government bonds used to finance the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Browning had earlier completed the senatorial term of Stephen A. Douglas, … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
During October 1868, the Union Pacific contract workers, under the direction of General Jack Casement, increased the pace at which they laid track. The typical rate averaged two to three miles per day, occasionally five. On October 26, however, they … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
In September 1868 both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific had departed the high mountains and were building across relatively level but difficult terrain. In Wyoming, the UP worked to cross the Red Desert between the two continental divides—one west … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
One hundred fifty years ago, in August 1868, the Union Pacific Railroad’s tracks in Wyoming extended almost seven hundred miles west from Omaha, Nebraska. End of track was now thirty miles beyond the new bridge over the North Platte River … Continue reading
On the Railroad 150 Years Ago
One hundred fifty years ago, one of the most significant events in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad took place. The incident did not involve the physical laying of any track, but it influenced the final work on the … Continue reading
MG Books About Native Americans
On Sunday, May 20, 2018, I posted a new article on the website Mad About MG History, entitled “MG Books About Native Americans.” Since the one hundred forty-ninth anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike occurred a few days … Continue reading
Antarctic Exploration Posting to Mad About MG History
Periodically, I post to Mad About MG History, a blog containing recommendations for books for middle grade students on selected subjects. The blog is primarily designed for teachers of middle grade students and librarians of middle grade schools, but parents … Continue reading
History of the Horse in Western America
Readers of this blog know I periodically contribute to the blog, Mad About MG History. MG stands for Middle Grade, and the purpose of the blog is to provide information for teachers and librarians engaged in encouraging middle grade students … Continue reading
New Post to “Mad About MG History”
Regular readers of this blog know that I periodically contribute to another blog, Mad About MG History. MG stands for Middle Grade, of course. The purpose of the blog is to provide information for teachers and librarians who are engaged … Continue reading
The First Intercontinental Railroad 150 Years Ago
The first Union Pacific Railroad train rolled into Cheyenne, Dakota Territory, on November 13, 1867. (Wyoming would not be designated a separate territory until July 25, 1868.) General Grenville M. Dodge, Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific, had selected the … Continue reading
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