Craigellachie, BC, is a small community located at the west entrance to EAGLE PASS. Craigellachie was the place where Donald SMITH drove the symbolic "last spike" in a ceremony marking the completion of the CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, 7 Nov 1885. It was named for a rocky crag in Morayshire, Scotland, where Smith grew up. The battle cry "stand fast" is associated with the Morayshire crag. Smith and fellow Scotsman George STEPHEN felt the need of this battle cry during the building of the scandal- and financial-plagued railway. Craigellachie was designated a national historic site in 1971.
 Last SpikeThe symbolic last spike in the building of the CPR was driven by Donald Smith on Nov 7, 1885 (photo by Ross Best & Co, courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-3693).
Links to Other Sites
Canadian Pacific Railway
The CP Rail website features information about the company's extensive services and operations. Click on "General Public" to access the multimedia "Heritage" section. This part of the site provides a photo gallery, and historical highlights that include the "Last Spike" and the "CPR in Vancouver."
Donald Smith drives the last spike at Craigellachie
This famous image of Donald Smith driving the “last spike” at Craigellachie, B.C. is from “The Canadian West” feature at Library and Archives Canada.
The Canadian Register of Historic Places
The Canadian Register offers a searchable database of historic places of local, provincial, territorial, and national significance.
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