Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2019
1. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot Marker
Inscription.
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot. . The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway was constructed between 1907 and 1909, the last transcontinental railroad to cross Montana. Its service to Great Falls during the homestead boom supported the city’s establishment as a major urban center for central Montana. When the Milwaukee Road completed this passenger depot in January of 1915, railway officials hailed it as the finest of its kind between Spokane and Chicago. The terminal is the only building in Great Falls made of “flash” brick, which is burned and unevenly fired. The 135-foot tower became a Great Falls landmark, acting as a giant marker of the depot’s location. The corporate logos 100 feet up on each side of the tower were the first of this type, designed to be used on any railway station in the United States. They are composed of small, high-grade tiles pointed with tinted mortar to create a seamless effect, even if viewed close up. Each sign measures 17 feet by 10 feet. This grand railroad depot compares favorably with the Milwaukee Road’s passenger depots in Miles City (1909), Butte (1916-17), and Missoula (1910).
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway was constructed between 1907 and 1909, the last transcontinental railroad to cross Montana. Its service to Great Falls during the homestead boom supported the city’s establishment as a major urban center for central Montana. When the Milwaukee Road completed this passenger depot in January of 1915, railway officials hailed it as the finest of its kind between Spokane and Chicago. The terminal is the only building in Great Falls made of “flash” brick, which is burned and unevenly fired. The 135-foot tower became a Great Falls landmark, acting as a giant marker of the depot’s location. The corporate logos 100 feet up on each side of the tower were the first of this type, designed to be used on any railway station in the United States. They are composed of small, high-grade tiles pointed with tinted mortar to create a seamless effect—even if viewed close up. Each sign measures 17 feet by 10 feet. This grand railroad depot compares favorably with the Milwaukee Road’s passenger depots in Miles City (1909), Butte (1916-17), and Missoula (1910).
Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars
Location. 47° 30.42′ N, 111° 18.52′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. Marker is at the intersection of River Drive North and !st Avenue North on River Drive North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 River Drive North, Great Falls MT 59401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 209 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
