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	900 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

Moose Lake Depot and Fires of 1918 Museum

Established	1934 (1934)
Location	900 Folz Boulevard, Moose Lake, Minnesota 55767, United States
Type	Local history

The Moose Lake station in Moose Lake, Minnesota, was a train station built in 1907. It was part of the Soo Line Railroad. This building is special because it survived the huge 1918 Cloquet Fire. After the fire, it became a safe place for people who lost their homes. In 1994, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The first train station here was built way back in 1873. The 1918 Cloquet Fire started on October 12, 1918. It was a very dry year, and a spark, possibly from a train, started a huge blaze. The fire destroyed a large area, including towns like Sturgeon Lake, Moose Lake, and Cloquet. It even reached close to Duluth.

This terrible fire took the lives of 453 people. It also destroyed 52,000 homes. The American Red Cross helped by housing people in temporary shelters. The people of Moose Lake worked hard to rebuild their community.

Passenger trains stopped coming to Moose Lake station on May 16, 1959. However, some mixed trains (carrying both passengers and cargo) continued to use the line until at least 1962. Today, the old Soo Line tracks are gone. They have been replaced by a fun walking and biking path called the Soo Line Trail.

Moose Lake Depot and Fires of 1918 Museum

Today, the old train station is home to the Depot and Fires of 1918 Museum. A big part of the museum focuses on the Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire of October 12, 1918. This fire was the largest natural disaster in Minnesota's history. It was also one of the deadliest wildfires ever in the United States.

The museum's exhibits tell the story of the fire. You can learn how it started, how it spread, and how it affected people. There are old photographs and interviews with people who lived through the fire. Some displays even show what life was like for those who stayed in the depot or rebuilt their homes afterward.

The museum also has special exhibits that change throughout the year. These often cover the history of railroads in the Moose Lake area. They show how trains helped the town grow. Other displays show what daily life was like in the early 1900s. You can see a 1920s kitchen and even a small chapel. The museum also displays clothing and items from local churches and residents.

The Moose Lake Area Historical Society runs the museum. They change exhibits to share different parts of local history. The property also includes a history center and a small gift shop. The museum is open during certain seasons of the year.