Library of Congress
As the Union Pacific railroad pushed westward in the late 1860s, the American public followed its progress with rapt attention. And the directors of the railroad, mindful of public opinion, took advantage of milestones to generate positive publicity.
When the tracks reached the 100th meridian, in present day Nebraska, in October 1866, the railroad assembled a special excursion train to take dignitaries and reporters to the site.
This card is a stereograph, a pair of photographs taken with a special camera that would appear as a 3-D image when viewed with a popular device of the day. Railroad executives stand next to the excursion train, under a sign reading:
100thMeridian
247 Miles from Omaha
On the left hand side of the card is the legend:
Union Pacific Railroad
Excursion to the 100th Meridian, October 1866
The mere existence of this stereographic card is testament to the popularity of the railroad. A photograph of formally dressed businessmen standing in the middle of a prairie was enough to generate excitement.
The railroad was going coast to coast, and America was thrilled.