West Loop in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Milwaukee Road
Photographed by Bob Cook, April 24, 2026
1. The Milwaukee Road Marker
The Milwaukee Road (Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific Railroad) was one of the three railroads that built Chicago’s Union Station. In 1956, the Milwaukee Road was the third largest railroad in track mileage (15,846) and sixth largest in revenues ($254 million), and employed more than 27,400 people. The Milwaukee Road was America’s first “green” railroad, with 656 miles of electrified track in Montana, Idaho and Washington.
Famous Milwaukee trains included the Olympian Hiawatha and Colombian (Chicago to Seattle), morning and afternoon Hiawatha (Chicago to Minneapolis), Midwest Hiawatha (Chicago to Omaha), Southwest Limited (Milwaukee/Chicago/Kansas City) and the Copper Country Limited (Chicago to Northwest Wisconsin/Michigan). The design and features of the Hiawatha trains made Milwaukee Road one of the few railroads to make a profit on passenger service during the 1930s. These same trains moved thousands of troops during World War II in the 1940s. Autos, trucks and airlines took away much of the passenger and freight service in the 1950s and 1960s, and by 1977 the railroad filed for bankruptcy. It was sold in 1985 to the Soo Line Railroad and local lines to Metra. Metra’s Milwaukee-North and Milwaukee-West commuter lines were once lined to the Northwest and Midwest. The Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line north
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Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago continues the Milwaukee Road’s tradition of high speed train travel. This station is a reminder of this once great railroad’s presence.
Erected 2014 by Amtrak (National Passenger Railroad Corporation, Milwaukee Road Historical Association, Tim O’Mahony, and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, and the Illinois State Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.
Location. 41° 52.691′ N, 87° 38.428′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in West Loop. It can be reached from West Jackson Boulevard just east of South Clinton, on the left when traveling east. Inside Chicago Union Station, on a wall across from the Junction Bar. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 S Canal St, Chicago IL 60606, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, 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: Former Site of the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gráinne Sculpture/Gráinne Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Patrick's
Photographed by Bob Cook, April 24, 2026
2. The Milwaukee Road Marker, along a wall in Chicago Union Station
Another marker is no longer nearby. Lou Mitchell's Restaurant & Bakery, Chicago, Illinois (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2026, by Bob Cook of Chicago, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 29, 2026, by Bob Cook of Chicago, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
