Midland in Haakon County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Midland Pioneer Museum
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2016
1. Midland Pioneer Museum Marker
This building is the Chicago Northwestern Depot built in 1906. This was also the year the railroad was built into Midland. It was purchased by the Midland Pioneer Museum Association in 1974 and moved from its site along the railroad tracks about 600 feet to the southeast.
In homestead days it served the people well. Many hundreds of homesteaders, business men, hoboes and passengers passed through this depot. For 50 years mail came in and out of Midland as well as hundreds of tons of freight were dispatched by perhaps a score of depot agents.
The outside of the building has not been altered. It is as it was in 1906. The brick on the walk are the same brick that were laid on the railroad platform.
The building and contents is dedicated to the preservation of the life styles, tools of trade, the joys and hardships of our pioneers.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Places • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 44° 4.224′ N, 101° 9.398′ W. Marker is in Midland, South Dakota, in Haakon County. Marker is on Main Street east of Bridge Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located directly in front of the subject
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Town of Midland (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Spotted Tail Trail (approx. 7˝ miles away).
More about this marker. This is a large, painted, wooden "billboard-style" marker.
Regarding Midland Pioneer Museum. For many years the Chicago & North Western was the probably the largest and most profitable of the Midwestern railroads. By 1910 it had reached an apogee, which continued
more or less through the 1920’s. It called itself the “Pioneer Railroad” because a predecessor, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, was the first railroad running out of Chicago (and all of Illinois), beginning in 1848. The C&NW also pioneered many “firsts” in railroad history. In 1906, the first C&NW trains reached Lander, Wyoming, which marked the end of the westward expansion of the C&NW. Plans to get to the West Coast never materialized.
Also see . . .
1. Chicago and North Western Railway. American Rails website entry:
"The definition of granger is a farmer or homesteader. The term also describes those railroads which served America's breadbasket and derived a substantial portion
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2016
2. Midland Pioneer Museum Marker (wide view; 1906 Chicago & North Western Depot in background)
2. Chicago and North Western Transportation Company. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 4, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2016
3. Midland Pioneer Museum / 1906 Chicago & North Western Railroad Depot
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2016
4. Midland Pioneer Museum / 1906 Chicago & North Western Railroad Depot (marker behind fence)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 352 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
