Moose Lake station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moose Lake
Former Soo Line passenger rail station
Moose Lake station in September 2007.
Location	840 Folz Boulevard, Moose Lake, Minnesota 55767
History
Opened	1873
Closed	May 16, 1959
Rebuilt	1907
Services
Preceding station Soo Line Following station Solana toward Brooten Brooten – Duluth Nemadji toward Duluth Kettle River toward Plummer Plummer – Moose Lake Terminus
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	840 Folz Blvd., Moose Lake, Minnesota
Area	less than one acre
Built	1907
Architect	Soo Line Railroad
NRHP reference No.	86003813
Added to NRHP	March 17, 1994

The Moose Lake station in Moose Lake, Minnesota, is a special old building. It was built in 1907 for the Soo Line Railroad. This station is famous because it was one of the few buildings that survived a huge fire in 1918. After the fire, it helped many people who lost their homes. Today, it's a museum that tells the story of that big fire.

The Historic Moose Lake Train Station

The first train station in this spot was built way back in 1873. The station you see today was built in 1907 by the Soo Line Railroad. It was a busy place where people would catch trains. In 1994, this station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building in American history.

The Great Fire of 1918

One of the most important events linked to the station is the 1918 Cloquet Fire. This huge fire started on October 12, 1918. It had been a very hot and dry summer, with little rain in the fall. On a windy day, a spark, possibly from a passing train, set nearby brush on fire.

The fire spread quickly and caused a lot of damage. A large area, from Sturgeon Lake to Moose Lake, Cloquet, and close to Duluth, was badly affected. Many lives were lost, and thousands of homes were destroyed. The American Red Cross helped by housing people who lost their homes in special "fire shacks." The people of Moose Lake decided to rebuild their community. The train station was one of the few buildings that survived the fire, and it became a safe place for those who needed shelter.

From Trains to Trails

Passenger train service at the Moose Lake station stopped on May 16, 1959. This happened when two specific trains, numbers 64 and 65, stopped running between Duluth and Thief River Falls. However, some mixed train service, which carried both passengers and freight, continued through Moose Lake until at least 1962.

Today, the old train tracks are gone. They have been replaced by a fun path called the Soo Line Trail. This trail is now used for recreation, like walking or biking.

The Station as a Museum

The Moose Lake station is no longer a train station. Instead, it now serves as the Depot and Fires of 1918 Museum. This museum tells the amazing stories of the tragedy and the heroism that came out of the big fire. The Moose Lake Area Historical Society runs the museum, helping visitors learn about this important part of local history.