Tama in Tama County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot Site

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025

1. Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot Site Marker

Inscription.
On this site there once stood the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Company Railroad Depot. In the early 1990's, over 350 volunteer man-hours by Tama Chamber of Commerce members resulted in the clean up of over 14,000 bricks salvaged from the depot.

In 1993 the bricks you see were donated by Tama Projects Ltd. to the Tama Chamber of Commerce and then to the construction of this building.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1993.

Location. 41° 57.807′ N, 92° 34.641′ W. Marker is in Tama, Iowa, in Tama County. It is at the intersection of State Street (U.S. 63) and West 5th Street, on the left when traveling north on State Street. The marker is mounted near the northeast corner of the commercial building at this location, facing State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 419 State Street, Tama IA 52339, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Historic "Lincoln Highway" Bridge (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hope Fire Company Engine House (approx. 2.2 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Milwaukee Road (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), better known as the Milwaukee Road, was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986. The company experienced financial difficulty through the 1970s and 1980s, including bankruptcy in 1977. Much of its historical trackage remains in use by other railroads.

(Submitted on January 4, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Old Chicago railway passenger depot in Tama, Iowa (facebook).

Excerpt: Postcard view of the old Chicago & North Western Railway passenger
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025

2. Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot Site Marker
The marker is mounted beside the main entrance, at the northeast corner of the building here today. It is surrounded by repurposed bricks from the old railroad depot.
depot at Tama, Iowa circa 1940. Unfortunately, the station was torn down in 1987.

(Submitted on January 4, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025

3. Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot Site

Thousands of repurposed bricks from the old Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot were used in the construction of these walls.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 89 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.