Brookings in Brookings County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Downtown

November 18, 2022

1. Downtown Marker

Inscription. Downtown Brookings located its commercial, public, and civic buildings in proximity to the railroad depot, creating the main street. As in many towns of that era, Brookings' main street and railroad line formed a "T" shape. The Chicago and North Western Railroad line arrived in Brookings at 6 p.m. on October 18, 1879.

The railroad entered Brookings at an angle, creating a triangle of land north of the depot. The area became a park with plantings, walkways, and a fountain. Later the Masonic Lodge and armory-auditorium were built on part of the property.

Most of Brookings' downtown buildings are from the twentieth century, except for the Masonic Temple, built in 1894 (225 Main Ave.), and the Binford Building (400 Main Ave.), built in 1899. Landmark buildings in the district include the New Century Block (302 Main Ave.), First National Bank (327 Main Ave.), and the 1912 City Hall (310 Fourth St.).

Captions:
Above: Downtown looking south c. 1930.
Right: Downtown looking north c. 1940.
Background: Downtown looking north 1913.
#1. Main St. looking north Brookings. S.D.

Erected by the City of Brookings, the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, a Preserve America grant, and the South Dakota State Historical Society.

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Images courtesy of the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is October 18, 1879.

Location. 44° 18.444′ N, 96° 47.93′ W. Marker is in Brookings, South Dakota, in Brookings County. It is at the intersection of Main Avenue and Front Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 Main Ave, Brookings SD 57006, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brookings County South Dakota Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Heart of Brookings (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pioneer Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Brookings County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Coughlin Campanile (approx. 0.8 miles away); College Green (approx. 0.8 miles away); Paul Zantow Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Medal of Honor Park (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookings.

Downtown Marker, from the south image. Click for full size.

November 18, 2022

2. Downtown Marker, from the south

Downtown Marker, from the north image. Click for full size.

November 18, 2022

3. Downtown Marker, from the north

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2023. This page has been viewed 598 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2023.