Aitkin station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Northern Pacific Depot
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 20 Pacific St., SW, Aitkin, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| MPS | Aitkin County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002926 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1982 |
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Aitkin County Depot Museum
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| Established | 2021 |
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| Location | 20 Pacific Street SW, Aitkin, Minnesota |
| Type | Local History |
Aitkin station in Aitkin, Minnesota, United States, is a brick passenger depot built on the Northern Pacific Railway mainline, opening on January 26, 1916. The rail line is now part of the BNSF Railway. The depot served as a crucial stop for travelers between Staples and Duluth and symbolizes the importance of the railroad in Aitkin's growth and development. The building now serves as the county museum.
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Northern Pacific Depot
The railroad line was initially built in 1871. By the early 1900s, Aitkin was emerging as the region's leading supply center, and the old wood-framed depot was considered grossly inadequate. The railway started construction of the new brick depot in 1915. It was built in the Mission Revival style with cut-stone trimmings and a German tile roof. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as the Northern Pacific Depot.
Passenger train service to Aitkin station ended on May 24, 1969, when trains 57 and 58 were discontinued between Duluth and Staples.
Aitkin County Depot Museum
The building is now occupied by the Aitkin County Historical Society as the Aitkin County Depot Museum. The museum showcases a range of exhibits, including displays on steamboats, railroads, logging, Native American history, military artifacts, children's toys, woodworking, and agriculture.
Aitkin County Historical Society
The Aitkin County Historical Society was established in 1948 to collect, preserve, and share historical information and artifacts relevant to Aitkin County's history. In 1950 a log cabin museum was built for displays next to the Aitkin County Courthouse.
Following negotiations initiated in 1970, the Burlington Northern Depot was acquired by the organization for conversion into a historical museum. The depot played an important part in the county's and the village of Aitkin's history as the village as established in 1871, coinciding with the railroad's expansion from Duluth. The log cabin then was moved to a spot between the depot and Armory building. When the armory was sold in 2000, the log cabin was moved and its current home at the Aitkin County Fairgrounds. A second building building was built next to the depot to house additional displays.
In 2004 the society purchased the local Northwestern Bell Telephone building from the Aitkin Iron Works to use to house artifacts currently not on display.
See also
| Preceding station | Northern Pacific Railway | Following station | ||
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| Cedar Lake
toward Staples
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Staples – Duluth | Rossburg
toward Duluth
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