Tower in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Tower Train Museum

Photographed By McGhiever, July 27, 2017

1. Tower Train Museum marker

Inscription. When iron ore was discovered on the Vermilion Range, Charlemagne Tower, Sr., George Stone, Charlemagne Tower, Jr., and George Stuntz formed the Minnesota Iron Company and acquired the Duluth and Iron Range Railway (D&IR). In 1883, they constructed a railroad between Vermilion Range operations and Two Harbors so ore could be shipped to steel mills via the Great Lakes. To meet the completion deadline, 14,000 men toiled around the clock.

On July 31, 1884, ten wooden rail cars of iron ore hauled by a coal-burning engine, left the Soudan Mine bound for Two Harbors. The historic 68-mile rail trip took seven hours. After the city was granted a charter, the railroad was extended into Tower in 1886.

That same year, the Illinois Steel Company, representing H.H. Porter, Cyrus McCormick, Marshall Field, and John D. Rockefeller, acquired a rich ore deposit near Ely, and bought the Minnesota Iron Company holdings, including the D&IR. In 1901, this company became the United States Steel Corporation.

The steam locomotive pictured was built in 1910 for the D&IR by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It was typical of those used to haul iron ore and passengers until 1953, when diesel locomotives were put into service.

Erected by Northeast Minnesota: The Wild North.

Topics. This historical marker is

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listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 47° 48.278′ N, 92° 16.769′ W. Marker is in Tower, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County. Marker is at the intersection of Poirier Road on Poirier Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 404 Pine St, Tower MN 55790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to DM&IR Engine # 1218 (a few steps from this marker); Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Fire Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Soudan Mine (approx. 2 miles away); The Old Vermilion Trail and Winston City (approx. 3.9 miles away); Hanka Homestead (approx. 8.7 miles away); Apostolic Lutheran Church (approx. 10.4 miles away); Nelimark Sauna (approx. 10.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tower.

More about this marker. Under the train shed just in front of the locomotive

Tower Train Museum marker in front of locomotive image. Click for full size.

Photographed By McGhiever, July 27, 2017

2. Tower Train Museum marker in front of locomotive

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2017, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on December 27, 2018, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 14, 2017, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.