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What is the topic of your winning essay?

The topic of my winning essay is breaking the barrier of building the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

What are your plans/dreams for after high school?

My plans for after High School are to serve a mission for my church, to further my education at college, and to start a family.

How did your National History Day project influence you and your interest in the American West?

My project influenced me to be more appreciative of the past and increased my interest in the American West.

What advice do you have for future NHD students?

I advise future NHD students to deeply search their topics and to never procrastinate. Working on it once a week would be a great idea.

The View of Lindsey Robins from the Center.

In her essay on the Central Pacific Railroad, Lindsey tells the complicated story of the development of the railroad and its impact on the lives of people out West and in the U.S. more broadly. She makes great use of primary sources so the whole process comes to life for the reader.

Lindsey weaves the story of building the Transcontinental Railroad together with a host of other significant historical developments, including national debates over slavery, increasing U.S. recognition of the rugged terrain in the Western portion of North America, and the convergence of people from all over the world in the West. Not only does Lindsey bring this historical story to life, but she also helps readers understand how these issues continue to shape life in the West today.

Lindsey says her History Day essay led her to a greater appreciation for the past. While she’s understandably not certain where her career and life may take her, it’s clear from her essay and reflections that in all she does, she’ll bring a keen eye for history and its contemporary implications in the American West and beyond!

-Brooke Neely, Research Fellow