Rock Island Railway Station 1901

Rock Island Railway Station 1901. Owatonna, Minnesota 1985. Once on this site there stood a beautiful red brick and limestone railway station that was part of the great Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway System. It was a stately building that served our community and the Rock Island System proudly for over 60 years. Its' demise was premature and unfortunate; however its' importance and historic legacy is secure. It was an invaluable contributor to the growth and history of all of Owatonna and Steele County. , Built around 1900, it served as both a passenger and freight depot. It saw men and women off to serve their country in World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam. Some inevitably saw their families here for the last time. It was the site of several Presidential visits, including Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower. It was a gathering place to a myriad of people traveling to destinations all over the United States. Open at all hours of the day, every day of the year it always provided warmth and security to many a weary traveler. , It is for these reasons that we erect this monument to commemorate this site and remember the people that passed through its' doors on their life's journeys and also to honor the people that were a part of the great Rock Island Railway System. , Our heartfelt thanks to our contributors: , The Owatonna Foundation , Owatonna, Clinton Falls, and Northern Railway System , Steele County Historical Society , Martin's Cycling and Fitness , The City of Owatonna , Fame Awards , Southern Minnesota Construction Company , Owatonna Chamber of Commerce , Rock Island System ,