"The Union Pacific Railroad is a big part of the Council Bluffs community, and with it comes the history. Part of the local history includes Union Pacific, a Cecil B. DeMille movie that premiered in the neighboring city of Omaha, Nebraska, in 1939. 

"To attract attention to their own community, Council Bluffs erected a 56-foot-tall railroad spike for the movie premiere. The Golden Spike is 100 times the size of a normal spike. Union Pacific designated the location as Mile Post Zero to help with drawing attention to the site. On April 28, 1939, during the dedication of the Gold Spike, DeMille himself said he expected the monument to last 100 years," the Atlas Obscura says.

"The monument was built in 1939 by the railway tracks, as most of the tourists came via train. In 1955, there was talk about moving the spike to an area that was more automobile-friendly, as by then, most people drove into town. The plans to move the massive structure fell through, and for decades, the spike fell into decay. Fortunately, it has since been preserved."

"The golden spike (also known as The Last Spike) is the ceremonial 17.6-karat gold final spike driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. The term last spike has been used to refer to one driven at the usually ceremonial completion of any new railroad construction projects, particularly those in which construction is undertaken from two disparate origins towards a common meeting point. The spike is now displayed in the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University

"An elaborate four-day event called the Golden Spike Days Celebration was held in Omaha, NE, from April 26 to 29, 1939, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the joining of the UP and CPRR rails and driving of the Last Spike at Promontory Summit, UT, in 1869. The center piece event of the celebration occurred on April 28 with the World Premiere of the Cecil B. DeMille feature motion picture Union Pacific which took place simultaneously in the city's Omaha, Orpheum, and Paramount theaters. The film features an elaborate reenactment of the original Golden Spike ceremony (filmed in Canoga Park, CA) as the motion picture's closing scene for which DeMille borrowed the actual Golden Spike from Stanford University to be held by Dr. W.H. Harkness (Stanley Andrews) as he delivered his remarks prior to its driving to complete the railroad. (A prop spike was used for the actual hammering sequence.)

"On the same day as the premiere of the movie, a still standing gold-colored concrete spike called the "Golden Spike Monument" and measuring some 56 feet (17 m) in height was also unveiled at 21st Street and 9th Avenue in Council Bluffs, IA, adjacent to the UP's main yard, the location of milepost 0.0 of that road's portion of the Pacific Railroad." (Wikipedia)

"The 70th anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony -- the one that marked the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad -- was celebrated in 1939 with the release of a Cecil B. DeMille movie, "Union Pacific." Hollywood staged the film's world premiere in Omaha, Nebraska, across the river from the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

"Council Bluffs, always second banana to the bigger city across the river, still wanted to get into the act. So it built a Golden Spike 56 feet tall -- 100 times bigger than the original -- out of reinforced concrete and topped it with an American flag. The Union Pacific called the Spike spot "Milepost Zero" as a way to draw attention to the site," the Roadside America says..

"The Spike was built next to the railway tracks because in 1939 that's how most travelers arrived in Council Bluffs. By 1955, however, most people arrived by car, and Council Bluffs wanted to move the Spike to a more auto-friendly spot. The plan went nowhere and the Spike fell into neglect. After only two decades, it was in danger of falling down. But the Spike, like the drive to link America's coasts with a railroad, outlasted its critics. Today the big monument is kept in good shape."

"This 56-foot golden concrete spike was erected in 1939 with the premiere of the film "Union Pacific."

"The spike pays tribute to the completion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869," the Travel Iowa says.

"In 1939, Cecil DeMille released the movie “Union Pacific” and launched its premiere in Omaha. Of course, Council Bluffs didn’t want to be left out of the party. Their contribution was to build a concrete spike that was 100 times larger than the original spike used to finish the transcontinental railroad back in 1869," the Iowa Road Trip says.

"The Golden Spike was designed by city engineer Jack Boyne. Apparently, it was built at the very last moment, just before the launch of the movie. It took fourteen days, working night and day, for five men to complete the 56-foot tall concrete structure. The city even provided lighting so construction could continue around the clock. When the power went out one night, they called in police offers who used their lights to enable the painters to finish in time. A local company donated 250 yards of white cloth to cover the spike for the unveiling.

"As the dedication ceremony arrived, the Union Pacific sold thousands of period costume dresses and bonnets, as they encouraged individuals to dress in the period costumes from 1869 when the real golden spike finalized the railroad. Men were also encouraged to grow a beard and/or mustache for the event. In fact, the local school district closed for two days so that families could attend the dedication ceremony and the release of the movie."

"Council Bluffs and Union Pacific Railroad share a rich and lengthy history together. Our Golden Spike Monument was erected in 1939 near 21st St and 9th Avenue in Council Bluffs to commemorate the junction of the UP and the Central Pacific rail lines at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869. The monument coincided with the premiere of the movie 'Union Pacific' that same year," the Union Pacific says.

"Thousands of Council Bluffs residents grew up with UPRR, and many of us can still hum that tune (we're a great big rolling railroad ...) even if we can't quite remember all the words! Train yards and miles of tracks are visible in and around our city. I would say that the vast majority of us know someone who did, or who still does, work for Union Pacific. The railroad is a very important and integral part of our community and our heritage. We are proud to be a railroad town in the great USA."

"The Golden Spike Monument (S 21st Street & 9th Avenue) sits on Milepost 0.0 the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1877, a transfer station and passenger station was built on the grounds at Milepost 0.0 where the Monument sits now. For the 70th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike in Promontory Point, Utah, movie producer Cecil B. DeMille and Paramount Pictures produced the story of building the railroad in the movie "Union Pacific," the Council Bluffs says.

"Union Pacific, the Cities of Omaha and Council Bluffs and Paramount Studios held Golden Spike Days in the area to celebrate the premier opening of the movie and an end of the depression. U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt opened the celebration by using a telegraph key set up in the White House for him to send the message to start the celebration.

"At the March 1939 Council Bluffs City Council Meeting, City engineer Jack Boyne suggested the monument and design. The Monument was constructed by 14 men in 10 days and completed on April 26, 1939 at a cost of $3,500. It took 5 days to build the base and 5 days to build the spike. The monument reaches 59 feet into the air and weighs 243,200 pounds."

"So, this is indeed a giant Golden Spike which signifies the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific transcontinental railway. The statue was done for a publicity stunt for a Cecil B. DeMille movie. If you're in the area, sure, make a quick stop at this quirky locale otherwise no need to go out of your way."

"My advice is to stop by, take a picture and then head to the Union Pacific Museum a couple miles away and that will then make for a good day."

"If you're into railroad history or quirky things this would probably be something you'd want to see."

"It is kind of worth a quick drive by. Nothing much to see at the spike itself. However, a few blocks away is the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and it is well worth seeing."

"Where did the transpacific railroad begin? It started in Council Bluffs Iowa! You can find the monument for the beginning of the railroad expansion west on ninth Avenue in Council Bluffs."

"This historically important recognition of the eastern start to link the railroad across the US is a small park. There is a picnic table by a gold-painted golden spike. Worth a quick stop."

Photos: World's Largest Golden Spike Monument: world record in Council Bluffs, Iowa

(1) Council Bluffs

(2-3) Facebook/Unleash Council Bluffs

(4) A throwback, courtesy of the Union Pacific Museum, of the dedication of our Golden Spike Monument in 1939.

Photo: Facebook/Unleash Council Bluffs