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A golden spike that completed the Alaska Railroad is up for auction. Alaskans want to bring it home

Aaron Leggett, the senior curator of Alaska History and Indigenous Cultures at the Anchorage Museum, poses for a photo Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Aaron Leggett, the senior curator of Alaska History and Indigenous Cultures at the Anchorage Museum, poses for a photo Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

In this July 1923 image provided by the Alaska Railroad Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding stands with others on the Alaska Railroad platform at Curry Hotel station in Curry, Alaska, during a visit to Alaska. (Alaska Railroad Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

In this July 1923 image provided by the Alaska Railroad Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding stands with others on the Alaska Railroad platform at Curry Hotel station in Curry, Alaska, during a visit to Alaska. (Alaska Railroad Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

In this July 15, 1923, image provided by the CIHS Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding drives the final golden spike at the new Alaska Railroad bridge in Nenana, Alaska. (CIHS Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

In this July 15, 1923, image provided by the CIHS Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding drives the final golden spike at the new Alaska Railroad bridge in Nenana, Alaska. (CIHS Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

In this July 1923 image provided by the John Urban Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding stands with others on the Alaska Railroad platform at Curry Hotel station in Curry, Alaska, during visit to Alaska. (John Urban Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

In this July 1923 image provided by the John Urban Collection, Anchorage Museum, President Warren G. Harding stands with others on the Alaska Railroad platform at Curry Hotel station in Curry, Alaska, during visit to Alaska. (John Urban Collection, Anchorage Museum via AP)

The Anchorage Museum is shown Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

The Anchorage Museum is shown Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

In this image, July 15, 1923, provided by the Alaska State Library Historical Collections, President Warren G. Harding drives the final golden spike at the new Alaska Railroad bridge in Nenana, Alaska. (Alaska State Library via AP)

In this image, July 15, 1923, provided by the Alaska State Library Historical Collections, President Warren G. Harding drives the final golden spike at the new Alaska Railroad bridge in Nenana, Alaska. (Alaska State Library via AP)

This image provided by Christie's Images shows a golden spike driven by President Warren G. Harding in Nenana, Alaska, just days before he died in office, which marked the completion of the Alaska Railroad over a century ago. (Christie's Images via AP)

This image provided by Christie's Images shows a golden spike driven by President Warren G. Harding in Nenana, Alaska, just days before he died in office, which marked the completion of the Alaska Railroad over a century ago. (Christie's Images via AP)

Meghan Clemens, the director of External Affairs for the Alaska Railroad, poses for a photo outside the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Meghan Clemens, the director of External Affairs for the Alaska Railroad, poses for a photo outside the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

The spike maul used by President Warren G. Harding to ceremonially drive a golden spike marking the completion of the Alaska Railroad on July 15, 1923, is shown at the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

The spike maul used by President Warren G. Harding to ceremonially drive a golden spike marking the completion of the Alaska Railroad on July 15, 1923, is shown at the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

The spike maul used by President Warren G. Harding to ceremonially drive a golden spike marking the completion of the Alaska Railroad on July 15, 1923, is shown at the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

The spike maul used by President Warren G. Harding to ceremonially drive a golden spike marking the completion of the Alaska Railroad on July 15, 1923, is shown at the railroad's headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)