Milwaukee Freight Depot

An old building full of new ideas situated off 6th and Phillips Avenue, the historic Milwaukee Freight Depot has entered a new era as Start Up Sioux Falls. The one story building made entirely of Sioux Quartzite is another example of Richardson Romanesque architecture you see sprinkled all over Downtown Sioux Falls.  

An August 15th 1894 Argus Leader article announces the Milwaukee Freight Depot will soon start being built using stone and labor sourced in Sioux Falls. The building will go on to be used by the railroad until the late 1960s. As passenger service stopped and the railroad tracks started to disappear this was just another empty old railroad building in downtown. The secret to the freight depot's staying power is in the eye of the beholder deciding to utilize a historic building instead of building something new. The freight depot would go on to be used as a training center for Raven, as well offices for Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation before becoming home to Start Up Sioux Falls. 

In May of 2022 Start Up Sioux Falls held a Wall Breaking Ceremony where they shared their plans to embrace the freight depot’s history as they renovated the building to fit their needs. Start Up Sioux Falls opened its doors in the historic Milwaukee Freight Depot February of 2023 though the team is more likely to refer to the building as “The Depot” 

“I look at the quartzite walls and think about the determination, care, and the tenacity that it took to build a facility that’s still standing strong,” said Brienne Maner, Executive Director at Start Up Sioux Falls. During renovations Start Up took out walls and took down drywall to expose the Sioux Quartzite all while reimagining the layout of the building.  

Start Up Sioux Falls is a coworking space, a social club and a place where local entrepreneurs can connect and grow their business while becoming a part of the community. All set within the almost 130 year old walls of the Milwaukee Freight Depot.