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Great Northern Depot (Wayzata, Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
The Great Northern Depot in Wayzata, Minnesota
is a depot built by the Great Northern Railway
in 1906. The depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The depot now houses the offices and museum of the Wayzata Historical Society as well as the Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce, and is known as the Wayzata Depot.
The St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, predecessor of the Great Northern, reached Wayzata on August 24, 1867. The first depot was located about three blocks east of its present location. When the railroad continued building westward, local citizens protested the construction of the railroad on the stagecoach road that ran in front of the shops in the business district, because the railroad would shower the town with cinders and sparks. The railroad ignored their complaints, so the town sued the railroad in 1883. In response, James J. Hill
, the president of the Great Northern, threatened to wipe Wayzata off the map. He demolished the former depot in 1893 and moved the stop a mile to the east, naming it Holdridge. Hill was quoted as saying, "Wayzata residents can walk a mile for the next 20 years!" Since Hill had influence with residents on the west side of town, he established a platform stop at Ferndale Road, about a third of a mile west of downtown. After 12 years of this feud, in which Wayzata citizens had to trudge a mile through marshy terrain to reach the train, Hill relented and built the new depot in the center of Wayzata's downtown.
The Great Northern Railway was influential in Wayzata since it brought tourists to the city to enjoy the resorts on Lake Minnetonka
. Many of these tourists came from the Southern United States
. Large steamboats ferried tourists to various hotels that were built to house these guests, and this contributed to Wayzata's development.
After the cessation of passenger service, the depot closed in 1971, at which point it was donated to the city of Wayzata. The Wayzata Historical Society operates a museum in the building. The original waiting room benches rest on the original terrazzo
tile floor. A freight agent's desk and freight scales reproduce the experience of checking passengers' luggage on the train. There is also a ticket window where an agent hands out souvenir tickets for destinations on the Empire Builder
train. The office area features the stationmaster's desk and the operator's desk, along with various memorabilia.
In the summer, the Museum of Lake Minnetonka
operates the Minnehaha steamboat from a dock located adjacent to the depot.
While passenger service to Wayzata ended in 1971, the rail line running past the depot remains in service. The Great Northern Railway merged with other railroads to form the Burlington Northern Railroad
in 1970, only a short time before Amtrak
took over passenger rail service in the United States in 1971. While Amtrak did not serve Wayzata, the Empire Builder continued to run through the city toward Willmar
and Morris, Minnesota
until 1979 when the North Coast Hiawatha ended service and the Empire Builder changed to its present routing. Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to form BNSF Railway
in 1996. The tracks past the depot are now part of BNSF's Wayzata Subdivision
.
Wayzata, Minnesota
Wayzata is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis. Wayzata came into existence in the center of Chief Shakopee's Indian village.-Early settlement:...
is a depot built by the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (US)
The Great Northern Railway , running from Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington—more than 1,700 miles —was the creation of the 19th century railroad tycoon James J. Hill and was developed from the Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad...
in 1906. The depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The depot now houses the offices and museum of the Wayzata Historical Society as well as the Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce, and is known as the Wayzata Depot.
The St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, predecessor of the Great Northern, reached Wayzata on August 24, 1867. The first depot was located about three blocks east of its present location. When the railroad continued building westward, local citizens protested the construction of the railroad on the stagecoach road that ran in front of the shops in the business district, because the railroad would shower the town with cinders and sparks. The railroad ignored their complaints, so the town sued the railroad in 1883. In response, James J. Hill
James J. Hill
James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest...
, the president of the Great Northern, threatened to wipe Wayzata off the map. He demolished the former depot in 1893 and moved the stop a mile to the east, naming it Holdridge. Hill was quoted as saying, "Wayzata residents can walk a mile for the next 20 years!" Since Hill had influence with residents on the west side of town, he established a platform stop at Ferndale Road, about a third of a mile west of downtown. After 12 years of this feud, in which Wayzata citizens had to trudge a mile through marshy terrain to reach the train, Hill relented and built the new depot in the center of Wayzata's downtown.
The Great Northern Railway was influential in Wayzata since it brought tourists to the city to enjoy the resorts on Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Throughout its recorded history, the lake has been a resort destination. It is located west-southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The lake is an irregular shape with numerous bays and islands which make up about of shoreline...
. Many of these tourists came from the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. Large steamboats ferried tourists to various hotels that were built to house these guests, and this contributed to Wayzata's development.
After the cessation of passenger service, the depot closed in 1971, at which point it was donated to the city of Wayzata. The Wayzata Historical Society operates a museum in the building. The original waiting room benches rest on the original terrazzo
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both...
tile floor. A freight agent's desk and freight scales reproduce the experience of checking passengers' luggage on the train. There is also a ticket window where an agent hands out souvenir tickets for destinations on the Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
train. The office area features the stationmaster's desk and the operator's desk, along with various memorabilia.
In the summer, the Museum of Lake Minnetonka
Museum of Lake Minnetonka
The Museum of Lake Minnetonka is an organization that was split from the Minnesota Transportation Museum in 2004–2005 to operate the steamboat Minnehaha that was part of a small fleet made by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company in 1906...
operates the Minnehaha steamboat from a dock located adjacent to the depot.
While passenger service to Wayzata ended in 1971, the rail line running past the depot remains in service. The Great Northern Railway merged with other railroads to form the Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
in 1970, only a short time before Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
took over passenger rail service in the United States in 1971. While Amtrak did not serve Wayzata, the Empire Builder continued to run through the city toward Willmar
Willmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
and Morris, Minnesota
Morris, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,068 people, 1,929 households, and 985 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,183.2 people per square mile . There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 482.6 per square mile...
until 1979 when the North Coast Hiawatha ended service and the Empire Builder changed to its present routing. Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to form BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
in 1996. The tracks past the depot are now part of BNSF's Wayzata Subdivision
Wayzata Subdivision
The Wayzata Subdivision or Wayzata Sub is a railway line that runs about from Willmar to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently operated by BNSF Railway, this was part of the Great Northern Railway's transcontinental line from Minneapolis to Seattle, Washington...
.
External links
- Wayzata Depot - Wayzata Historical Society