8 SEPTEMBER 1883 – The Northern Pacific Railroad Completion Site is located near Gold Creek in Powell County. . Former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final âgolden spikeâ in an event attended by rail and political luminaries. The building of a transcontinental railroad route across the northern United States from Minnesota to the Pacific Coast began in 1870. Crews built from both the eastern and western ends, progressing towards a yet undetermined meeting point somewhere in between. The two crews finally met near Independence Creek in Western Montana on August 22, 1883, which is near Gold Creek where gold was first discovered in Montana. At this point the track was connected, completing the transcontinental line, however, the “golden spike” completion ceremony would not occur until September 8, 1883. rochestermilitary.com