Commercial Street Historic District in Springfield in Greene County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
First Springfield Railroad
Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 5, 2021
1. First Springfield Railroad Marker
West of this marker 480 feet a construction train of South Pacific Railroad ~~ now St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) ~~ pulled into new town of North Springfield at 3 P.M., April 21, 1870. First passenger train, with state and railroad dignitaries aboard, arrived May 3, 1870. The depot and Ozark Hotel were being built by railroad on Commercial and Benton. Shops to east, and later the west shops, became important to economy of Springfield and North Springfield, which merged in 1887. After Frisco combined with Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis Railroad in 1901, the station on Main at Mill was used and Commercial Street Depot was discontinued.
Erected 1972 by St. Louis - San Francisco Railway Company and Greene County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 21, 1870.
Location. 37° 13.808′ N, 93° 17.149′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Missouri, in Greene County. It is in the Commercial Street Historic District. It is on East Commercial Street west of North Washington Avenue,
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Regionally, this marker is in the American Ozarks, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. 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, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Springfield's Historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Commercial Street 150 Years of History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bentley House (approx. half a mile away); Indian Mounds (approx. 0.7 miles away); Fairbanks Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Tau Eta Gamma (local) (approx. 0.7 miles away); Silver Springs Park (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Fairbanks Hall (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 5, 2021
2. First Springfield Railroad Marker
Photographed by Unknown, April 21, 1870
3. First Locomotive arrives in Springfield Missouri
The South Pacific Railroad under the direction of President Hayes and Andrew J Pierce JR. traveled on a work train into North Springfield, then called "Moon or Crescent City". A St. Louis newspaperman supposedly remarked that the people who were working to get a road to Springfield were just as likely to get a railroad built to the moon as to Springfield. In 1868, the state sold the old Southwest Pacific property to a new company, the South Pacific Railroad, and it was under this name that the railroad finally reached Springfield. Thus, the town was facetiously dubbed Moon City, and the name is still occasionally used today.
Photographed by Gregory William Wadley, 2026
4. Early Railroads at Springfield Missouri
[Excerpt - By Telegraph]
FIRST DESPATCH.
ARRIVAL.
Springfield, Mo., May 3. — The great South Pacific jubi-
lee excursion party arrived at this place at a little after eleven
o'clock this forenoon.
ON THE ROUTE.
At every station, after leaving the Pacific depot in St.
Louis, crowds were assembled, and cheer after cheer went
up as the excursion train swept by.
Accessions were made at each stopping place last night,
even in the forest; and on the plain bonfires were blazing in
honor of the occasion.
Arriving at Springfield we found a vast crowd assembled,
comprising people of all grades, high and low, white and
colored, men, women, and children.
The irrepressible iron horse, invading and penetrating
this remote section, miles away from the proud center of
civilization, has brought a new life to this region. The
people here keenly realize this fact, and will prove them-
selves worthy of it.
Cannon were fired, cheers rent the air, flags fluttered to
the breeze — the inhabitants and all nature appeared to par-
ticipate in the grand jubilee.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,394 times since then and 110 times this year. Last updated on October 25, 2026, by Gregory William Wadley of Fremont Hills, Missouri. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3, 4. submitted on October 23, 2026, by Gregory William Wadley of Fremont Hills, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
