Chicago Great Western Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chicago Great Western Depot
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Red Wing CGW depot building in 2007
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 726 East Main Street Red Wing, Minnesota  United States |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1906 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002056 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1980 |
The Chicago Great Western Depot is an old train station located in Red Wing, Minnesota. It's found at 726 East Main Street. This historic building is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of American history.
A Busy Train Station
The depot was built in 1906. It was constructed by the Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW). This railway company grew by buying two smaller train lines. These were the Minnesota Central and the Duluth, Red Wing, and Southern.
The Minnesota Central connected to Cannon Falls. The Duluth, Red Wing, and Southern went to Zumbrota. After buying these lines, CGW made Red Wing a main office spot. They called it a "divisional headquarters."
The new depot was a big building. The first floor was for passengers. People would wait there for their trains. The second floor held offices for the railway company. This red brick building was the largest train station CGW ever built in Minnesota.
From Trains to Coffee
Over time, train travel changed. In 1966, the train tracks south of Red Wing were removed. These tracks went towards Pine Island. Later, in 1982, the tracks from Cannon Falls to Red Wing were also abandoned. They had not been used for many years.
After the tracks were gone, the depot was no longer a train station. The building found new life. In 1979, it was changed into a Hardee's restaurant. Years later, in 2006, it became a Caribou Coffee shop. Today, you can still visit this historic building. It stands as a reminder of Red Wing's railway past.
