1914 Golden Spike Marker Placed Monday, September 15

Spokane will honor the 111th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony on September 15, 2025, with a plaque placement to celebrate the historical railroad achievement. The Ayer-Cutoff, completed in 1914, reduced travel time to the west coast and connected Spokane to an extensive railroad system. The ceremony will take place at 1 p. m. along the Centennial Trail under the Monroe Street Bridge, with community members invited to attend.

The Jonas Babcock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution obtained the plaque through a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This initiative is supported by the Spokane Historic Preservation Office on public land managed by City of Spokane Parks & Recreation. The original golden spike event marked Spokane's emergence as a vital railroad hub in the American West. Robert E.

Strahorn played a key role in this development, securing investments that bolstered the city's transportation infrastructure.