ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Alaska museum and city, with help from donors including the Alaska Railroad, have won the auction for a 14-karat gold spike that was part of the railroad’s completion ceremony in 1923.
The Anchorage Museum and city of Nenana will take turns displaying the spike, which was purchased for $201,600, according to auction company Christie’s. The auctioneer had estimated the spike’s value at $30,000 to $50,000.
Other private donors joined with the railroad to help fund the purchase.
The spike was given to Col. Frederick Mears, one of the Alaska Railroad’s chief engineers, as a parting gift when he left the project. Mears loaned it to the state and railroad for the July 15, 1923, ceremony in which it was driven by President Warren G. Harding, after which it was returned to Mears. It has remained in private hands since, although it was displayed during the state’s centennial [see “Alaska Railroad gold spike set for auction,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 30, 2024].
“We are thrilled to partner with Nenana to share this piece of history with the public,” said Julie Decker, Anchorage Museum director/CEO said in a press release. “The Golden Spike is a great piece of storytelling about place and people.” Said Joshua Verhagen, mayor of Nenana, ““I think it’s a neat story of an urban and a rural community both along the rail belt coming together for a worthy cause. I look forward to working together and tying our communities together once again with this same Golden Spike.”
The gold-spike ceremony was held near Nenana, about 300 rail miles north of Anchorage.
Congratulations to the state of Alaska and the Alaskan city of Nenana for preserving this priceless piece of history. I would love to go see it!