Great Falls station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Great Falls
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | |
_2002-05.jpg)
Great Falls Milwaukee Road Depot, May 2002.
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| Location | 101 River Drive, Great Falls, Montana 59401 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Rebuilt | 1915 |
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Passenger Depot is an old train station in Great Falls, Montana. It was built in 1915 by a big train company called the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. People often called this company "The Milwaukee Road."
The Milwaukee Road was the last major railroad to build tracks all the way across the United States. It reached Montana between 1907 and 1908. This was part of its "Pacific Extension," which meant extending its lines to the Pacific Ocean.
Contents
About the Great Falls Station
This train station is a two-story building made of brick. It has a tall tower that is 135 feet high. The building is shaped like a rectangle.
Inside the Station
On the first floor, there were waiting rooms for passengers. There was also an office for the station agent, who helped people with tickets and information. Rooms for handling luggage were also on this floor. The second floor was used for offices for the railroad company.
Who Designed It?
The station was designed by an architect named J.A. Lindstrand. He also designed another Milwaukee Road station in Missoula, Montana.
The Station's History
The Great Falls train station served the community for many years. It was a busy place until the mid-1960s. Around that time, The Milwaukee Road stopped offering passenger train service.
What Happened Next?
After the train company stopped running trains, the building was empty for a while. In the 1970s, it was turned into a shopping mall. But the mall closed down in the early 1980s. Later, in 1988, the building was changed again. This time, it became an office building.
A Historic Place
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Passenger Depot is an important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 13, 1988. This means it's recognized as a special historical site.
