Rock Island Depot
Photo by Lorraine Draper |
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The Rock Island Railroad Depot, built in 1890, is Pipestone's only
remaining depot. In Pipestone's heyday, there were four rail lines
going into the city. As one of the major reasons for Pipestone's
prosperity, the railroad is central to the history of this small
Minnesota town. The 26-foot by 80-foot depot is constructed of cream
colored bricks, trimmed in Sioux quartzite. The freight room is
wider and taller than the rest of the building, resulting in a projecting
roofline and gables. A rectangular bay extends toward the track
from the freight office. Two waiting rooms, one for male and one
for female patrons, still exist and each have separate entrances
and chimneys. Due to the decline in railroad usage, the depot closed
in the 1960s.
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Historic image of Rock Island
Depot c.1900
Courtesy of Pipestone County Historical Society |
For a time during the 1970s the depot served as a center for American Indians called the Spirit of Peace Indian Center. After sitting
empty for several years, Historic Pipestone, Inc., acquired the depot
in 1986. Since that time, the exterior has been restored with matching
grants from the Minnesota Historical Society. In January 1997, Historic
Pipestone, Inc. sold the depot to a American Indian organization,
Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers. They have since completed
renovation of the interior. Included is an art gallery, gift shop
and meeting rooms.
The Rock Island Depot is located in the 400 block of N. Hiawatha
Ave., Pipestone. Summer hours are Monday-Saturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm,
Sunday noon-6:00pm. Winter hours vary. For further information call
888-550-8675 or visit the website
of the Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers.
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