The Reading Warehouse

In the early nineteenth century, much of the land west of the Mississippi River was not yet part of the United States. Many people dreamed of settling this huge area, but the journey to get there was long and dangerous.

By the mid-1860s, a bold plan had taken shape: the country had decided to build a single railroad stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Spanning North America, it would be the first railway to cross a continent: the first transcontinental railroad.

Follow along with the difficult and dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad. Track the events and turning points of this major construction project that contributed to the westward expansion of the United States, yet created hardships and conflicts along the way.

Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Alison Behnke had the good fortune to live in Rome, Italy, for three years while in grade school. Not only did this move expand her horizons enormously and introduce her to one of the world's best and most beautiful cities, but it provided her with a wealth of writing material. Even before her Roman holiday, however, Alison knew that she wanted to be an author--a desire which, according to her parents, she first voiced around age six. Good teachers, avid reading, and a children's librarian for a mother all fed the fire. Alison went on to take a degree in English with a focus on Creative Writing, and at present count she has written more than thirty books. Alison lives in Minneapolis, and when she's neither reading nor writing, she spends her time on pursuits including photography, travel, and striving to make the perfect espresso.