January
Aug 14 Joseph Henry Travels the Transcontinental Railroad
Year:
1871
Month:
august
Day:
14
Date:
Mon, 1871-08-14
SIA Image reference:
On August 14, 1871, Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry commences his journey to California via the transcontinental railroad completed just two years earlier. His daughter Helen accompanies him. As chairman of the U.S. Lighthouse Board's Committee on Experiments, Henry spends most of his time in San Francisco inspecting lard oil for lamps. During the six to seven day journey from Washington to California and back, Henry and Helen stop in Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska, Salt Lake City, and Chicago.