When Omaha was celebrating the release of the movie Union Pacific, Council Bluffs erected a large golden spike for their part. The golden spike represents the starting point of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is 59 feet high and weighs 243,000 pounds. In 1877 a passenger station and transfer station was located on this site. In 1939 Omaha hosted a large celebration for the 70 year anniversary of the golden spike and the premier of the Cecil B. Demille movie Union Pacific. Council Bluffs city engineer Jack Boyne suggested building the spike at this location marking the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific. It took 14 men ten days to build it. The spike is on 9th Avenue by lots of railroad tracks between 20th and 21st streets.
