Perham in Otter Tail County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway at Perham
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2023
1. Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway at Perham Marker
Otter Tail County Historical Society
June 28, 1931
Erected 1931 by Otter Tail County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1871.
Location. 46° 35.717′ N, 95° 34.456′ W. Marker is in Perham, Minnesota, in Otter Tail County. Marker is on West Main Street (Otter Tail Scenic Byway) (County Road 80) just west of 2nd Avenue Southwest, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located near the center of the City of Perham Northern Pacific Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West Main Street, Perham MN 56573, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Perham (a few steps from this marker); Otter Tail City (approx. 11.6 miles away); Otter Tail City & Ottertail Village (approx. 11.7 miles away); First County Seat of Otter Tail County (approx. 11.7 miles away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Perham, Minnesota. Excerpt:
In 1871 Josiah Perham, the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, had a vision of taking a railroad from Lake Superior to the Pacific coast. Once the railroad entered Otter Tail County in September 1871, many people began to settle in the area. The original townsite was laid out in June of 1872 and the first wooden buildings were built. The village was platted March 6, 1873 and in March 1877 it officially became Perham, named after the NP Railroad president.(Submitted on September 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The Northern Pacific Railway. Excerpt:
The Northern Pacific Railway has a very rich historical beginning. Josiah Perham, along with Asa Whitney, Isaac Stevens and Edward Johnson were the first to put in motion a railroad across the route that was traversed by Lewis & Clark on their expedition to the northwest. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Federal Charter for Perham's railroad in December of 1864. Perham's efforts lasted almost two years. Then on July 2, 1866, with a construction deadline looming, heavily in debt and his health failing, another organization stepped in... On February 15, 1870, near Duluth, Minnesota, ground breaking(Submitted on September 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)ceremonies for the Northern Pacific Railway took place. Construction began July 1870.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 20232. Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway at Perham Marker(looking north from West Main Street • marker is near the center of the City of Perham Northern Pacific Park)
3. Northern Pacific Railway (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former President Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in western Montana on September 8, 1883. The railroad had about 6,800 miles of track and served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. The main activities were shipping wheat and other farm products, cattle, timber, and minerals; bringing in consumer goods, transporting passengers; and selling land.(Submitted on September 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2023
3. City of Perham, Northern Pacific Park
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
