Jamestown in Stutsman County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Freight House, Round House and Lookout Tower
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024
1. The Freight House, Round House and Lookout Tower Marker
The Freight House, built in 1883, was an important addition to the Northern Pacific Railroad system. The Freight House, one block in length, stored goods coming into and being shipped out of the region. Prior to construction, immigrants traveling into Jamestown had their belongings strewn along the track, susceptible to all of the elements including rain, snow and mud. Over the years, many groups used the Freight House as a gathering space, including the Episcopal Church, which had a basket social to make money to build their church.
Roundhouses were a particularly North American invention, not as common in the rest of the railroad world. The term signifies that the building had a central point around which it was constructed. The turntable was in the center of the roundhouse, designed to pivot and reverse the direction of the engine. Round houses were essentially used for servicing and basic maintenance of steam locomotives such as the heavier oil and greasing that needed to be done and some minor adjustments to the steam engine running gear.
In 1881, a Lookout Tower was constructed along the tracks, off Main Street, and
this page online
Erected by City of Jamestown, Stutsman County Memorial Museum, North Dakota Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Mary Young.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 46° 54.554′ N, 98° 42.522′ W. Marker is in Jamestown, North Dakota, in Stutsman County. It is on 1st Avenue North (U.S. 52/281) just south of 2nd Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jamestown ND 58401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Drift Prairie. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land
2. Marker detail: The Freight House
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A New Town Site on the NP Line (a few steps from this marker); The Old Depot and School Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); Gazebo Park and the Presidential Visit in a Private Railroad Car (within shouting distance of this marker); Seiler Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stutsman County World War Memorial (about 300 feet away); In Celebration of the Two Hundredth Year Birthday of the United States of America, 1976 (about 300 feet away); The Hansen Arts Park (about 600 feet away); Elizabeth White (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jamestown.
Also see . . . Jamestown, North Dakota's bustling Northern Pacific railway yard in 1955 (facebook).
(by Robert Kjelland, 5/19/2025) Excerpt: The roundhouse at Jamestown, North Dakota was one of the largest on the entire system as measured in the number of stalls. Jamestown was in a flat river valley with healthy grades at either end of the yard. I understand a 2-8-8-2 pusher was(Submitted on July 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)stationed here in the 1940s.
3. Marker detail: The Round HouseWhat is more intriguing about Jamestown is the number of trains passing through or originating or terminating here for decades. Pick a time, say October of 1955. How many passenger/mail trains went east and west through Jamestown? How many local and through and extra freight trains? Day and night. How many trains of cattle were routed to the north yard tracks for watering and resting? And wasn't there an icehouse nearby?
What about the bewildering number of branch lines wandering north and south? Mixed trains, local freights, gas-electrics, and passenger trains were dispatched heading north (and west) to Carrington/Sheyenne, Wilton, and Turtle Lake. Others went south to Oakes (a gas-electric from Fargo and another from Staples could be found connecting to this line at LaMoure and Oakes respectively).
4. Marker detail: The Lookout Tower
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024
5. The Freight House, Round House and Lookout Tower Marker
The marker is mounted on a brick and concrete wall beside the sidewalk and overlooking the active railroad tracks.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
