International Falls in Koochiching County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

International Falls Passenger Rail

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2024

1. International Falls Passenger Rail Marker

Inscription.

International Falls Passenger Rail. . , E.W. Backus personally paid for the railroad construction from Brainerd, MN to International Falls. This venture cost Backus four million dollars. The group of people shown below are waiting for the first train to enter International Falls on September 27, 1907. , The Minnesota and International Railroad Freight Depot in International Falls was located across the street from the passenger depot on the southeast corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue. , City dock, located at the east end of 2nd Street, connected International Falls to a small portion of Rainy River and all of Rainy Lake. This large crowd is probably waiting for one of the excursion boats., The first Minnesota and International Railroad Passenger Depot in International Falls was located on the northeast corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue., The last passenger depot in International Falls is the current office of the Chamber of Commerce. This was the last passenger depot built in the state of Minnesota., The idea of a bicycle trail running from International Falls to Ranier originated with the Rainy Lake Women's Club. The Women's Club promoted the trail concept to provide a place for both youth and family activities. After getting agreement from the Ranier City Council, and the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners, the trail was completed in the late 1970's as one of the areas bicentennial activities. The trail has since been extended as far up the lake as Voyageurs National Park Visitor Center. , Experience the Past , Koochiching Museums, Historical Museum , “10,000 years of Borderland History”, Bronko Nagurski Museum , “The greatest football player of all time”, Unique gifts and books in our museum shop. , 214 6th Avenue, Downtown District, International Falls, Minnesota 56649 . 218-283-4316 , If you have questions or would like to learn more about the history of the area, please contact the Koochiching County Historical Society/Museums , 218-283-4316 or koochichingmuseums.org.

E.W. Backus personally paid for the railroad construction from Brainerd, MN to International Falls. This venture cost Backus four million dollars. The group of people shown below are waiting for the first train to enter International Falls on September 27, 1907.

The Minnesota and International Railroad Freight Depot in International Falls was located across the street from the passenger depot on the southeast corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue.

City dock, located at the east end of 2nd Street, connected International Falls to a small portion of Rainy River and all of Rainy Lake. This large crowd is probably waiting for one of the excursion boats.

The first Minnesota and International Railroad Passenger Depot in International Falls was located on the northeast corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue.

The last passenger depot in International Falls is the current office of the Chamber of Commerce. This was the last passenger depot built in the state of Minnesota.

The idea of a bicycle trail running from International Falls to Ranier originated with the Rainy Lake Women's Club. The Women's Club promoted the trail concept to provide

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a place for both youth and family activities. After getting agreement from the Ranier City Council, and the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners, the trail was completed in the late 1970's as one of the areas bicentennial activities. The trail has since been extended as far up the lake as Voyageurs National Park Visitor Center.

Experience the Past
Koochiching Museums

Historical Museum
“10,000 years of Borderland History”

Bronko Nagurski Museum
“The greatest football player of all time”

Unique gifts and books in our museum shop.
214 6th Avenue, Downtown District, International Falls, Minnesota 56649 • 218-283-4316
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the history of the area, please contact the Koochiching County Historical Society/Museums
218-283-4316 or koochichingmuseums.org

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 27, 1907.

Location. 48° 36.109′ N, 93° 24.119′ W. Marker is in International Falls, Minnesota, in Koochiching County. It is at the intersection of 2nd Avenue

Marker detail: Waiting for the first train<br>September 27, 1907 image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Waiting for the first train
September 27, 1907

(U.S. 53) and 4th Street (State Highway 11), on the left when traveling south on 2nd Avenue. The marker is mounted on the northeast side of the interpretive kiosk at the northeast corner of the intersection, near the tall Minnesota Welcomes You sign. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: International Falls MN 56649, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Village of Koochiching & International Falls (here, next to this marker); Alexander Baker (here, next to this marker); Steamboats on the Rainy River / Welcome to Minnesota (within shouting distance of this marker); Route of the Voyageurs (approx. 0.3 miles away); Welcome to Smokey Bear Park

Marker detail: Minnesota and International Railroad Freight Depot image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: Minnesota and International Railroad Freight Depot

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Bronko Nagurski (approx. 0.3 miles away); International Border (approx. half a mile away in Canada); Crossing the Border (approx. 0.9 kilometers away in Canada). Touch for a list and map of all markers in International Falls.

Also see . . .
1. Minnesota and International Railway (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: This road began as a conglomeration of logging lines in north central Minnesota, along with the Northern Pacific's own nascent Brainerd and Northern, begun circa 1892 to build north to the border with Canada. On July 17, 1900, the Northern Pacific formed the Minnesota and International to control these lines as a through-route between its terminal at Brainerd, Minnesota, and the border with Canada at International Falls, Minnesota. The line formed a 200-mile north–south route via Bemidji, Minnesota.

(Submitted on August 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The Era of E.W. Backus.

Excerpt: The pace of development quickened after the Minnesota & International Railway reached the border in September 1907. It was a line Backus and the booming village of International

4. Marker detail: City Dock
Falls sorely needed. The Northern Pacific, operators of the M & I, had stopped construction when the rails reached Big Falls. Backus then formed a railway company of his own and threatened to build the 34-mile stretch himself. Under this pressure the Northern Pacific relented and put crews to work.
Though his vast empire of paper and lumber mills, power plants and woodlands collapsed during the Great Depression, he is still remembered as the founder of enterprises that survived his own downfall. The forest products industries that have been the mainstay of Koochiching's economy for 75 years — and are continuing as such — are deeply rooted in the accomplishments of E.W. Backus. Present-day Koochiching was still a part of Itasca County — sparsely settled and largely undeveloped — when he first came on the scene in the late 1890s.

(Submitted on August 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: First Minnesota and International Railroad Passenger Depot image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: First Minnesota and International Railroad Passenger Depot

Marker detail: Last International Falls Passenger Depot image. Click for full size.

6. Marker detail: Last International Falls Passenger Depot

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2024

7. International Falls Passenger Rail Marker

Looking southwest; the marker is mounted on the northeast side of the interpretive kiosk. 2nd Avenue is on the right. 4th Street is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.