1914 Golden Spike Marker Placed Monday, September 15

Spokane will commemorate the 111th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony on September 15, 2025, with a memorial plaque unveiling. Community members will gather at 1 p. m. along the Centennial Trail under the Monroe Street Bridge in Kendall Yards to honor the event that celebrated the completion of the Ayer-Cutoff railroad link. The Jonas Babcock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution organized the memorial with support from the William G.

Pomeroy Foundation and the Spokane Historic Preservation Office. The Ayer-Cutoff, a 105-mile railroad segment, significantly shortened travel times to the west coast and linked Spokane to a broader railway network. This achievement helped secure Spokane’s status as a vital railroad hub in the American West. On that historic day, Spokane’s Union Station also began passenger services, underscoring the importance of the railroad to the city’s development. The golden spike remains a symbol of Spokane’s transportation legacy and economic growth.