Artist Creates Family-Centered Painting of Historic Railroad Spike
The last spike
An Armenian-American artist has created a painting inspired by the 1869 completion of the Transcontinental Railway, reimagining the historic "Last Spike" moment with members of his own family. The work draws from Thomas Hill's 1881 painting of the same event and incorporates figures including the artist's father, whose brass railroad spike sculpture inspired the project. The painting features multiple family members in roles connected to the railroad's construction, including references to Chinese and Irish immigrant laborers who built the transcontinental line. The artist reflects on how the railway transformed travel to California—reducing journey times from months to days—and how it facilitated Armenian immigration and settlement patterns, particularly to areas like Glendale. The project blends historical documentation with personal family narrative.
