Bentonville station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bentonville Train Station
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Bentonville Train Station, March 2012
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 414 S. Main St., Bentonville, Arkansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1925 |
| MPS | Benton County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002337 |
| Added to NRHP | January 28, 1988 |
The Bentonville Train Station is an old train station in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was built in 1925 on Main Street. This station was part of a short rail line. This line connected Bentonville to bigger railroads. It linked to the Frisco Railroad in Rogers and the Kansas City Southern Railroad in Gravette. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Station
Early Railroads in Benton County
In the 1850s, people started thinking about bringing railroads to Arkansas. Alfred B. Greenwood tried to pass a law for a railroad. It would have connected Springfield, Missouri to Bentonville. But railroads didn't arrive until after the American Civil War.
In the 1870s, the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, also called the Frisco, wanted to expand. They planned to build a line through Bentonville. This line would help transport fruits and tobacco from local farms. However, the Frisco changed its route around 1880. It went through other towns like Rogers instead. Bentonville was completely missed by this main line.
Connecting Bentonville to the Rails
Bentonville business owners didn't give up. In 1882, they built their own short rail line. It was called the Bentonville Railroad. This line was about 5.25 miles long. It connected Bentonville to the Frisco line in Rogers. This gave Bentonville access to trains. But the Frisco Railroad charged a lot of money to use their tracks.
Later, in 1898, the Bentonville-Rogers line became part of a new railroad. It was called the Arkansas and Oklahoma Railroad. This new line was extended west. It connected to the Kansas City Southern Railroad in Gravette. This gave Bentonville another choice besides the Frisco. In 1899, the line went even further west into Oklahoma. The Frisco Railroad bought this line in 1900.
These railroads were very important for Bentonville. They helped the area's apple industry grow. Before, tobacco was the main crop. But apples became more popular with better transportation.
The 1925 Station Building
The Bentonville Train Station you see today was built in 1925. It replaced an older, less efficient building. After World War II, trains were used less often. The train station stopped operating. It became empty and started to fall apart.
In 1980, a group of people became interested in saving the station. They worked to fix it up. After it was restored, they leased the building. The Bentonville Chamber of Commerce used it as their office.
The Station Today
Today, the Bentonville Train Station is no longer a train station. It is now the office for Celebrate Arkansas Magazine. Next to the station, there is a nice area called Train Station Park. This park has a gazebo and benches. It also connects to the Downtown Trail, a walking path. Across the street from the train station is the Bentonville Public Library. The library is also an important historical building.
