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. 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

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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. In addition, it is included in the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, and the Montana National Register Sign Program series lists.

Location. 47° 30.42′ N, 111° 18.52′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2019

2. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot

within walking distance of this marker: Great Falls Civic Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); New Park Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Murphy Maclay Hardware Store (approx. ¼ mile away); Boyd House (approx. ¼ mile away); Arvon Block (approx. ¼ mile away); McCulloh Residence (approx. 0.3 miles away); Northside Residential Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Liberty Theatre (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2019

3. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2019

4. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot

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 374 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.