Canadian Pacific Railway reaches Pacific

On July 6, 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway drove the last spike at Craigellachie, British Columbia, completing Canada's first transcontinental railroad. Led by Donald Smith and William Van Horne, the project overcame Rocky Mountain passes and harsh winters using thousands of laborers. This 3,000-mile feat connected eastern Canada to the Pacific, enabling national unity post-Confederation and spurring western settlement. It featured innovative engineering like the Spiral Tunnels and influenced global rail standards, remaining a vital freight corridor today.