BIG FOUR BUILDING

A California National Historic Building built in 1852, The Big Four Building is named after the four great railroad magnates, Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker who spearheaded the Central Pacific Railway and founded the Southern Pacific Railroad in Sacramento. It was the infrastructure that connected California to the rest of the United States. The vision and boldness of these businessmen led them to success. Leland Stanford, the 8th Governor of California, was the president of the Central Pacific Railroad and lent funds to complete the project. As for Collis Potter Huntington, he was the chief financier and negotiator with the Europeans in particular, who provided the materials needed to build the railroad. Mark Hopkins, the oldest of the four, was known as a calm and conscientious person, and he supervised the work as a manager. Finally, Charles Crocker was in charge of the construction of the Central Pacific. The latter two were, moreover, partners in a company supplying equipment for the miners, which was obviously very productive at the time. Empire builders or robber barons? These four great personalities made their fortune thanks to the construction of the railroads and proudly displayed their wealth by building gigantic houses like that of Leland Stanford. Today you can't visit the inside of the building but it is still interesting to pass by.