Tag Archives: Union Pacific Railroad

The History of the Union Pacific Big Boy: The World’s Largest Steam Locomotive

The transcontinental railroad was considered the Eighth Wonder of the World, as it was one of America’s greatest achievements at the time, and still holds the title to this day. The completion of a railroad that wedded the East and … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Big News: We’re Launching an Education and Outreach Department!

We have some really exciting news to share—the American Heritage Center is creating a new Education and Outreach Department. If you’ve been following along with us, you know we’ve always been about more than just preserving collections. We want people … Continue reading →

Posted in Exhibits, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fossils, Fame, and the Frontier: The Story of William Harlow Reed

In the annals of American paleontology, William Harlow Reed occupies a unique place—a self-taught fossil hunter whose keen eye and determination helped shape our understanding of the prehistoric West. Through his groundbreaking work at Como Bluff, Reed was instrumental in … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Video Series Brings Union Pacific Railroad Stories to Life

When you think of the Union Pacific Railroad, you might picture massive locomotives or endless stretches of track crossing the plains. But for a recent American Heritage Center oral history project, it’s the people and their stories that take center … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, American History, Women's History, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bonds of Life and Limb: Women of the Union Pacific

In the rugged terrain of Wyoming, the railroad carves its path like a long river of steel, shaping the history and spirit of the place. Yet, the stories of those who spend their lives on the rails, laboring with grit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Life Between the Rails”: National Hispanic Heritage Month and the Unseen Tracks of History

In the echoes of locomotive whistles and the steady rhythm of rolling steel, there lies a story often untold. From September 15 to October 15, we honor National Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to reflect on the deep and enduring contributions … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Railroad Romance and Reality: Unpacking the Legacy of Railways in America

Documents and photographs found in the American Heritage Center’s collections can be used to explore the ways in which railways have been and are perceived in American society. Examples of these are in an AHC virtual exhibit titled “The Art … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Exhibits, Western History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Loving Frank: Romance on the Transcontinental Railroad

It might surprise you to find romance amid the story of the back-breaking and dangerous labor involved in building the transcontinental railroad. But we have one for you. We’re commemorating the anniversary of the joining of the Central Pacific and … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles, Western History, Women's History, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The End of the Line for George Parrott

George Francis Warden, aka “George Parrott” and “Big Nose George,” was an outlaw in Wyoming and Montana in the late 1800s. Although he wasn’t a very successful bandit, he became famous in Wild West history due to how his outlaw … Continue reading →

Posted in Western History, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eyewitness to Racism: Andrew Bugas and the Rock Springs Massacre of 1885

Andrew Bugas (Andrej Bugos) was not quite 20 years old in 1885 when he arrived in Rock Springs to work in the Union Pacific’s coal mines. Born in Austria, he came to the United States in 1880 to join his … Continue reading →

Posted in Extraction and Energy, Western History, Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment