Utah became the 45th state of the United States of America in 1896. The state's byname is 'The Beehive State'. This goes back to the first settlers of Utah, who saw the beehive as an emblem of industriousness and made it the symbol of their territory. Consequently, Utah's motto is 'Industry'.
As motif for its state quarter, Utah chose a spike and two steam locomotives. The inscription reads 'Crossroads of the West'. The depiction symbolizes the completion of the first railroad between the east and the west of the USA. The line ran over 3069 kilometers and connected the settlements on the Missouri River with California. It allowed faster colonization of the west and the beginning of industry.