1914 Golden Spike Marker Placed Monday, September 15

Spokane residents will gather on September 15, 2025, to unveil a memorial plaque celebrating the 111th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony that marked the completion of the Ayer-Cutoff railroad link. The event will occur at 1 p. m. along the Centennial Trail under the Monroe Street Bridge in Kendall Yards. The Jonas Babcock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution obtained the plaque through a grant from the William G.

Pomeroy Foundation. This gathering recognizes the historical significance of the railroad in reducing travel time to the West Coast and enhancing Spokane's connectivity. Spokane’s Union Station, which opened the same day in 1914, further solidified this connectivity before its demolition for Expo ’74. Robert E. Strahorn, a key figure in Spokane's railroad development, secured substantial investments that established the city as a critical hub in the American West.

The Ayer-Cutoff reduced travel time by multiple hours, facilitating greater access to previously unreachable railroad systems. This anniversary serves as a reminder of the importance of railroads in Spokane's economic and infrastructural history.