Canadian Pacific Reaches Vancouver

On June 24, 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway drove the final spike near Vancouver, establishing a continuous transcontinental link from Montreal to the Pacific. Overcoming Rocky Mountain passes with innovative engineering like the Spiral Tunnels later, the project involved thousands of workers and leaders such as William Cornelius Van Horne. This event unified Canada economically, enabled western settlement, and used powerful 4-6-0 locomotives for freight. Its significance lies in fostering national identity and competing with US lines, with lasting impacts on Canadian rail infrastructure and tourism.