Wallace began his career with the Central Pacific Railroad and was present at the laying of the Golden Spike at Promontory Point , Utah on May 10 , 1869 . In 1875 began work with the Pacific Improvement Company . His most famous work was in the personal home of Mark Hopkins , which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire , the original Santa Monica Pier , and the Del Monte Hotel in Del Monte , California . He also had control of the construction of several railroad terminals , including those in Sacramento , California , Los Angeles , California ( Santa Fe Station ) and Redlands , California
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
William Wallace Barbour Sheldon