The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announced that the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts – and partnering organizations such as the J. Willard Marriott Library – was the recipient of the Award of Excellence for four in-house produced history exhibits (three traveling exhibits) celebrating the meeting of the transcontinental railroad in northern Utah, Spike 150.

The J. Willard Marriott Library’s Special Collections Division and the Preservation Department are included in this award for work on curating exhibitions at the Utah State Capital, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and several other locations across the state. Additionally, a statewide grants program and host of supporting historical products were offered to the public free of charge.

The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 75th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. The American Association of State & Local History is the oldest and most respected national organization that focuses on “history professionals, history volunteers, museums, historical societies, and other history-related organizations and public history professionals.”

Randy Silverman, Head of Preservation at the J. Willard Marriott Library, was involved in installing the Treasures of the Transcontinental Railroad Exhibit at the Utah State Capitol and served as the State’s preservation consultant as required by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). contract requesting the loan of two vellum documents. “The effort to pull in both national archive materials and statewide pieces resulted in an incredible celebration,” comments Silverman. “It was an honor to work with so many talented individuals to bring about a truly stunning array of activities.”

This enormous statewide effort called upon nearly every major museum or historical/cultural repository in the state to assist with the exhibitions and their supporting materials (see partial list of partners below).

Marriott Library Exhibits and Activities:

“Golden Spike Sesquicentennial: Documenting celebrations of Spike 150”  AND Digital Exhibition

Head of the Book Arts Program Goes the Distance with Artist Book for Spike 150

University of Utah Press Publishes New Book for 150^th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad

Book of the Week: The Central Pacific Railroad – A Trip Across the North American Continent

Statewide Exhibitions:

“A World Transformed: The Transcontinental Railroad and Utah” — curated by the Utah State University

“Tracing the Path: Chinese Railroad Workers and the First Transcontinental Railroad” — curated by the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association

“Spencer Fox Eccles’ Treasures of the Transcontinental Railroad, Start to Finish: The 1862 Pacific Railway Act to the 1869 Last Spikes at Promontory,” was created in partnership with NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) and the Stanford University, Cantor Center for the Arts (among other distinguished loaning museums).

Pop-up exhibitions at the Golden Spike National Historical Park (GSNSP) entitled: “Faces From the Past, Labors and Native Americans,” “Who is Missing [from the famous Champagne photograph?,” and finally, a series of L-form double-sided panels that profiled the workers and select new history topics.

Associated Programs:

A statewide, state legislature funded, grants program that gave over thirty communities across Utah an opportunity to offer their own exhibits, special events and products, throughout 2019 related to the history and impact of the railroad on these respective communities.

Scores of regional, national and international press stories were published such as this AP News Story.

A dozen K-12 (2nd and 8th Grades) educational packets for Utah students and beyond; produced by the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, the Utah Office of Education and Utah’s National History Day; topics include Irish Workers, Chinese Workers, Indigenous Encounters, Agriculture, Railroad, Mining, Industrialization, and Transportation & Movement in Utah, and more.

GIS Story Board and Map entitled “Transcontinental Railroad: Two railroads become one in Utah”

A Volunteer-Docent Primer (with levels of training) useful across the state for all public events, exhibits related to the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad.

A series of AR artifacts, historical photos and children built history based booklets entitled “Unlock the Past with Augmented Reality.”

A 150th anniversary Transcontinental Railroad US stamp

List of Primary Partners to Spike150 and the Utah Dept. of Heritage & Arts (not necessarily in order of importance):

•  Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association
•  Golden Spike National Historical Park, National Park Service
•  Chinese Railroad Workers Project, Stanford University
•  Irish Railroad Workers Project, New York University
•  Utah State University Libraries
• Utah Department of Heritage & Arts
•  Utah National History Day Program
•  Utah Museum of Fine Arts
•  Cantor Center for the Arts, Stanford University
•  Del Loy Hansen Foundation
•  Insights Exhibits
•  L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Brigham Young University
•  Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University
•  ReDirect Digital, Inc.
•  Wilkinson, Ferrari & Co.
•  The Utah Division of Arts & Museum
•  University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library
•  Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
•  Union Pacific Railroad Museum
•  Grenville Dodge House Museum
•  The National Archives and Records Administration
•  David Lawrence Rare Coins