Milwaukee Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harlowton
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | ||||||||||||||||
Harlowton station in August 2007.
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| Location | 319 Central Avenue, Harlowton, Minnesota 59036 | |||||||||||||||
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| Rebuilt | 1908 | |||||||||||||||
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Milwaukee Road Historic District
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southern end of Central Ave., Harlowton, Montana | |||||||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 88001024 | |||||||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1988 | |||||||||||||||
The Milwaukee Road Historic District in Harlowton, Montana is a special place that shows how important trains once were. It includes the old train station and other buildings used by the Milwaukee Road railway company. This area was a very busy and important part of the railway's history.
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The Harlowton Electric Railway Hub
The train station in Harlowton was built in 1908. That same year, trains started running through this Montana town. But Harlowton became truly famous a few years later. In 1916, the Milwaukee Road made this station the start of something amazing.
A Special Electric Railway
Harlowton became the eastern end of a long electric railway line. This line stretched all the way to Avery, Idaho. It was the longest electric railway in the entire United States! Even famous inventor Thomas Edison was impressed. He called the railway an "unmatched technical marvel." This meant it was a super impressive and unique engineering achievement.
Harlowton: A Busy Railway Town
Harlowton was more than just a stop on the line. It was a major "division point" for the railway. This means it was a key place where train operations were managed. The facilities here included a standard passenger station, known as a Class A station. It also had a rare and still complete "roundhouse." A roundhouse is a special building where trains were stored and repaired.
The railway was also very important for the people of Harlowton. It was the biggest employer in the city. Many people worked for the Milwaukee Road, helping the town's economy grow.
A Place of History
Because of its importance, the Milwaukee Road Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on July 8, 1988. Being on this list means the district is recognized as a significant historical site. It helps protect these important buildings for future generations to learn from.
