Horses to Horsepower

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Hop on board one of our Horses to Horsepower programs to experience what it was like to build the nation’s first Transcontinental Railroad more than 150 years ago! Your conductor will escort you to five different stations located throughout the California State Railroad Museum. Discover how Transcontinental Railroad reduced travel time, inspired innovation, encouraged western settlement, and enabled California’s agriculture industry to grow.

The Transcontinental Railroad changed life in America forever!

This program takes about 1 hour. Recommended for 4th or 5th grades.

Spring 2023 programs run in March and April.


Stations for Students:

  • Achieving the Impossible: Theodore Judah and the Big Four plan a Transcontinental Railroad.

  • Overcoming Obstacles: Chinese workers made up 90% of the Central Pacific Railroad’s workforce. Who were the workers that built a railroad by hand?

  • Done! The Gold Spike Ceremony: What was it like to attend the Gold Spike Ceremony at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869?

  • Safety and Comfort on the Railroad: Mexican railroad workers (traqueros) built and maintained railroad tracks in the Western and Southwestern United States, and African American inventors designed ways to make train travel more efficient.

  • Feeding a Growing Nation: People were not the only ones riding the rails. Railroads transported agricultural items, creating a huge new industry in California.

Digital - Wednesdays

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Join a CSRM Guide and Q&A Chat Moderator for a live, interactive, and personalized Zoom program.

This school program is completely remote and takes place on Wednesdays. This does not include entrance into the museum nor a train ride.

For Title 1 schools, reservations start on October 1, 2022.

For all schools, reservations start on October 15, 2022

Make Your Reservation!

Free for all schools

In Person - Thursdays

School Programs Current Programs Horses To Horsepower

Join a CSRM Guide for an interactive tour through the museum and visit stations with hands-on engagement.

This field trip takes place at the museum on Thursdays. Does not include a train ride.

For Title 1 schools, reservations start on October 1, 2022.

For all schools, reservations start on October 15, 2022

Make Your Reservation!

Free for all schools

Questions?

Please contact the California State Railroad Museum Group Desk if you have any questions or to make reservations over the phone.

[email protected]
(916) 323-9274
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