Photo courtesy of Steve Bolton
The Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad (later the Great Northern) railroad line from Wadena ended in Park Rapids and the turntable was located at this site. Freight and passenger service started in 1891 and was celebrated with a parade on Main Avenue on August 1.

The arrival of the railroad to Park Rapids in 1891 had an enormous effect on the city's development. Before the railroad, early settlers had to make long treks through the woods to reach nearby towns to acquire supplies. Even as more passable roads and regular stagecoach service arrived, residents were eager for the arrival of the railroad.

In 1883, the Wadena and Park Rapids Railroad company was incorporated. Planning began for a railroad line that would connect from existing tracks at Eagle Bend and run through Wadena all the way to Park Rapids. In 1890, when surveying began, it was the talk of the town. Later that year, rails were laid as far as Wadena. Residents eagerly imagined a future where a quick trip to New York might be just around the corner.

The tracks were completed at the end of July 1891. The first passenger train arrived in Park Rapids on August 1. The town celebrated the arrival and there were parades up Main Avenue. Young women wore white dresses with red sashes, each decorated with the name of a station on the railroad line.

The Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railroad (later the Great Northern) took control of the tracks later in 1891 and began operating regular freight and passenger service to Park Rapids. The Great Northern continued passenger service to the city until 1952.

218 1st Street East
Park Rapids, MN 56470

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46.922118292173224, -95.05489127139465