10 May 1869
New Moon, 1% lit
The golden spike
The transcontinental railroad was completed at new moon, and the hammer blow was wired live to the whole country.
The spike and the hammer were both wired to a telegraph circuit so the strike would be transmitted as it happened. It is arguably the first live national broadcast of anything, and the man swinging missed on the first attempt.
- Date
- 10 May 1869
- Moon computed for
- 12:00 local time, UTC−7:30The time of day is not recorded here, so noon stands in.
- Phase
- New Moon
- Illuminated
- 1%
Source: U.S. National Park Service