Near Avery in Shoshone County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

The Olympian Hiawatha

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 22, 2011

1. The Olympian Hiawatha Marker

Inscription.
On June 29, 1947 the pride of the Milwaukee Road was introduced-- an all new streamlined train called the “Olympian Hiawatha”.

The name “Hiawatha” originated with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Song of Hiawatha” written in the mid-1800s. The Milwaukee Road chose the name for their fast streamlined passenger trains because of these lines:

Swift of foot was Hiawatha;
He could shoot an arrow from Him,
And run forward with such fleetness,
That the arrow fell behind him!

This luxurious and futuristic train was styled by noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens. It consisted of a sweeping cab-style diesel locomotive followed by a mail car, baggage dormitory car, three coaches, a dining car, a tap-lounge-grill, a “Touralux” sleeping car, a roomette car and the “Sky Top Lounge” car.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1908.

Location. 47° 20.653′ N, 115° 37.837′ W. Marker is near Avery, Idaho, in Shoshone County. Marker can be reached from Loop Creek Road (Federal Road 326) 4 miles west of Cliff Creek Road (Federal Road 506). Located along the Route of the Hiawatha Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Avery ID 83802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Olympian Luxury (a few steps from this marker); The Big Blowup (approx. ¼ mile away); The Mighty Quills (approx. ¼ mile away); The 1910 Fires (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Traveler (approx. 0.3 miles away); Johnson’s Big Cut (approx. 0.4 miles away); Little in Name Only (approx. 0.4 miles away); Electrified (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Avery.

More about this marker. On the right are several illustrations with the captions, "In 1952 the lounge cars were replaced with the Super Dome cars. These were two-story cars with 68 seats in the upper glass-domed section and 28 seats in the beverage-lunch-lounge underneath." and "The most distinctive part of the train was its last car—the “Sky Top Lounge”. The rear 20 feet of these cars consisted of a rounded solarium of glass offering an unparalleled view."

Also see . . . Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail. (Submitted on August 5, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 22, 2011

2. The Olympian Hiawatha Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 917 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.