John Henry's story is closely tied to the larger history of America's growth, specifically the nation's rapidly expanding railroads in the late 1800s.

After the Civil War, there was a renewed push to extend rail lines further west, helping to connect the country and to support its growing economy. In 1870, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway began building a new line through southern West Virginia. The route mostly followed the Greenbrier, New, and Kanawha rivers, aiming to reach the Ohio River at Huntington. The construction was a huge undertaking.

By January 1873, the hard work of the eastbound (pictured) and westbound construction crews came to a close when they met at Fayette Station on the New River, completing the line. This significant milestone was made possible by the difficult and dangerous work performed by laborers such as John Henry.