National Register of Historic Places

Southern Minnesota Depot

Rushford, Fillmore County, Minnesota
Listed
June 19, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86001363

About this property

The Southern Minnesota Depot in Rushford, Minnesota, United States, is a historic railway station. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Constructed in 1867 as a one-story building. The depot’s second level was added in 1868 as a residence for the depot agent’s family. The Rushford depot is thought to be the last two-story depot still standing in its original location on the Southern Minnesota Railroad line. The Southern Minnesota Railroad ran from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Austin, Minnesota, prior to being bought out by the Milwaukee Railroad. The last passenger train stopped in Rushford in 1975 and the last freight train left town in 1980. When the railroad closed the line in 1980, the depot was used as storage for a local business. The depot was purchased by the Rushford Area Historical Society (RAHS) for $10,000 in 1987. Restoration efforts began immediately through grant writing, fundraising, and volunteer help. In the early years the depot housed the local telegraph and post office and was a popular gathering place and communications center. RAHS restored the building to be a visitor’s center, museum, and genealogy research center. The museum showcases artifacts and stories from area people, organizations, and businesses. The railway bed adjacent to the depot became the Root River State Bike Trail in 1988 and the visitors' center provides local and regional travel information, restrooms, and a drinking fountain for those using the trail.

Location

Rushford, Fillmore County, Minnesota
43.80720, -91.75593

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Southern Minnesota Depot

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rushford Wagon and Carriage Company
Industrial
0.1 mi
Rushford City Mill
Industrial
0.5 mi
Walker and Valentine House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Quickstad Farm Implement Company
Industrial
4.2 mi
Norway Township Stone House
Industrial
5.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Southern Minnesota Depot listed on the National Register?

Southern Minnesota Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Southern Minnesota Depot?

Southern Minnesota Depot is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Southern Minnesota Depot?

The period of significance for Southern Minnesota Depot is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Southern Minnesota Depot?

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