Which came first? · Counterintuitive
Which came first: American Express or the first transcontinental railroad?
American Express came first, in 1850 (founded). The first transcontinental railroad followed 19 years later, in 1869 (completed).
- First1850
American Express
company · foundedAmerican Express began in 1850 as a delivery company, carrying parcels and cash.
- Second1869
The first transcontinental railroad
landmark · completedThe first railroad across the United States was finished in 1869 with a golden spike.
More pairs that fool people
- Which came first: the first transcontinental railroad or the death of Jules Verne?
- Which came first: the first transcontinental railroad or the light bulb?
- Which came first: American Express or The Sound of Music?
- Which came first: American Express or Bizet's Carmen?
- Which came first: the first transcontinental railroad or Opel?
- Which came first: American Express or the Brooklyn Bridge?
- Which came first: the Hindenburg disaster or Pfizer?
- Which came first: the safety pin or the World Series?
All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games
Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.