Artifact #1: Last Spike Completing Canadian Pacific Railway (Nov. 7, 1885)

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Citation:

Alexander Ross. Hon. Donald A. Smith Driving the Last Spike to Complete the Canadian Pacific Railway. Photograph. November 7, 1885. Library and Archives Canada. ID Number 3194527. http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=3194527&lang=eng.

Label:

This photograph shows the Honourable Donald A. Smith driving the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) into the ground. The photo was taken by Alexander Ross on November 7, 1885, at Craigellachie, British Columbia. It marks the completion of one of Canada’s most significant projects of connecting the eastern provinces to the Pacific. It also symbolizes the fulfillment of one of the promises made in Confederation.

The construction of a nation-wide railway was a critical motivator for Confederation, particularly for bringing British Columbia into the nation. British Columbia entered Confederation as the sixth province on July 20, 1871, on the condition that a railway connecting it to the rest of Canada would be constructed within 10 years. Due to politics, finances, and mismanagement, the railway construction was not completed until 14 years later. All of the provinces wanted a reliable means of transportation, trade, and defence, which the railway provided. It cleared the path for economic growth, strengthened ties between the provinces, and reinforced Canadian sovereignty over the west during a time of extreme American expansion. This photograph not only shows the completion of a railway but also the unification of Canada’s provinces from coast to coast.

Bibliography:
Lavallée, Omer. "Canadian Pacific Railway." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Last modified November 28, 2023. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-pacific-railway.

Tattrie, Jon. "British Columbia and Confederation." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Last modified January 16, 2020. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/british-columbia-and-confederation.