Cozad, NE

It's hard to over-emphasize the significance of Cozad, Nebraska, in the story of Union Pacific's march westward. By crossing the 100th meridian line—an invisible, yet critical geographic marker—near Cozad on October 6, 1866, Union Pacific was guaranteed the right to continue westward construction, as stipulated in the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. This milestone meant that Union Pacific could proceed west to meet the Central Pacific railroad, and in the process continue to receive the land grants on either side of the tracks and the per-mile subsidy loaned to them by the U.S. government.

Stereoview image taken by James C. Carbutt of Chicago, in October of 1866. This image shows a company of Pawnee Scouts and Union Pacific excursionists arranged in front of the excursion train. The business car on the left is the car used to transport President Abraham Lincoln's remains to Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. Union Pacific purchased the car in 1866 for use during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. This excursion demonstrated Union Pacific's capability to build the railroad and terminated at the 100th meridian, near Cozad, Neb.

Steroview taken by James C. Carbutt of Chicago, in October of 1866 shows directors of the Union Pacific Railroad gathering beside the steam locomotive "Idaho," passenger train cars, and a painted sign with lettering that reads, "100th Meridian, 247 Miles from Omaha," in Cozad, NE. A United States flag and rack of antlers is mounted on the front of the train engine. Men wear suits, overcoats, caps or top hats; three men pose with rifles, plate 219.

Photograph of the train station in Cozad, Nebraska, c1926.

Busy train station in Cozad, Nebraska c 1910.

Still, in the wake of construction delays and doubts about its completion, Union Pacific Vice President Thomas Durant wisely figured that the railroad needed to convince investors and the public that real progress was being made. He also wanted to prove to government officials that the funding being provided would be a wise investment. Durant devised a publicity event, aptly named the "100th Meridian Excursion." This event would gather 200 reporters, politicians and invited guests in Omaha on October 23, 1866, and transport them, by rail, the 247 miles west to Cozad, the site of the 100th meridian.

But Durant made sure this wasn't just any trip. Two complete trains had been assembled for the excursion, the first carrying an advance party of workers and Union Pacific executives to prepare the route. The second train consisted of nine cars that would carry the excursionists, including several new Pullman "Palace" cars. The guests in the Pullman cars dined on sumptuous catered foods from Omaha, as well as wild game hunted on the excursion route. Fine champagne and other wines and liquors flowed freely, and a contingent of Pawnee Scouts (on loan from the U.S. Army for protection through what was still considered dangerous territory) provided entertainment, including staging mock attacks and presenting a "war dance" to the guests on board.

The trip took three days, and on October 25, 1866, the excursionists finally arrived at the 100th meridian—the site that would eventually become Cozad. Durant considered the trip to be a roaring success. Government officials were satisfied with the progress being made, and the publicity surrounding the journey sufficiently piqued investors' interest, ensuring that the money needed to continue construction would be made available. So important was this milestone to the continuation of the transcontinental railroad that a sign commemorating the 100th meridian excursion still stands in Cozad today.

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