Leland Stanford

Hello, my name is Leland Stanford. My story begins on a farm in a small town in New York, where I was born on March 9th, 1824. I grew up with my seven brothers and sisters, and life on the farm taught me all about the value of hard work. From a young age, I was curious about the world beyond our fields. I decided to study law, which I found very interesting, but I always had a bigger dream. I would often hear stories about the adventures happening out west, and I knew one day I wanted to be a part of that excitement and discovery.

In 1852, I finally followed my dream and moved to California. It was the middle of the Gold Rush, and thousands of people were hoping to find their fortune. But I had a different idea. Instead of digging for gold, I opened a business selling supplies like shovels, food, and tools to the miners. My business was very successful. It was in California that I also met my wonderful wife, Jane. As I built my life there, I became very interested in helping the state grow and succeed. My work led me into politics, and in 1861, the people of California trusted me enough to elect me as their governor. During my time as governor, my friends and I began to talk about a huge idea—one that would change America forever.

That idea was to build a railroad that would stretch all the way across the country. My business partners and I, who were later known as the 'Big Four,' started the Central Pacific Railroad. Our goal was to build the tracks eastward from California, over the tall and rugged Sierra Nevada mountains. It was an enormous challenge. We hired thousands of brave and hardworking people to make it happen, including many Chinese immigrants who did some of the most difficult and dangerous work. At the same time, another railroad, the Union Pacific, was building its tracks westward. We were in a race to meet in the middle. Finally, on the famous day of May 10th, 1869, I stood at Promontory Summit in Utah. With a special hammer, I tapped the final 'Golden Spike' into the track, and for the first time, our nation was connected by rail from coast to coast.

While I was busy with railroads and politics, my greatest joy was my family. My wife Jane and I had one beloved son, Leland Jr., and he was the center of our world. We loved him more than anything. But our world was turned upside down in 1884 when our dear son became very sick and passed away. Our hearts were broken. To honor his memory, Jane and I decided to do something that would help other children for generations to come. We said to each other, 'The children of California shall be our children.' In 1885, we founded a university and named it after him: Leland Stanford Junior University. We wanted it to be a place of learning and discovery for everyone. The university officially opened its doors to its first students on October 1st, 1891.

After my work with the railroad, I also had the honor of serving the people of California as a United States Senator. I lived to be 69 years old, and I was proud of the life I built and the country I helped connect. Today, many people remember me for helping to build the transcontinental railroad. But my greatest hope is that I am remembered for the university Jane and I created. Stanford University continues to be a place where bright young people learn how to make the world a better place, and in doing so, they keep the loving memory of our son alive forever.