Rock Island Railroad Bridge

More railroad history hiding in plain sight in Downtown Sioux Falls, with two relics that have been repurposed and are in daily use today. The Rock Island Railroad Bridge has a historical plaque on the West bank of the Big Sioux River directly behind the Hilton Garden Inn. The bridge spanning the river was built for the third rail line to come to Sioux Falls. It was the Burlington, Cedar Rapids Northern, later the Rock Island line and was established here October 26th, 1886.  

Thomas H Brown, a name we have heard before when talking about the cannon at Lyon Park, as he was instrumental in getting the Civil War Era cannon here, well he was instrumental in getting this railroad line here. Sounds like the kind of guy that might keep popping up in our history.  

The passenger depot for the Rock Island Line was built on 1st and E 10th and it would be the start of over 80 years of passenger service with the last official passengers leaving the station in 1970. 

This building is stunning, it is made of our native Sioux Quartzite as well as wood, it is another example of Richardson Romanesque style architecture and be still my heart it has an octagonal turret. The outside is so unique with a mix of stone and wood, and the 2nd floor covered in wooden shingles. Once the railroad moved on the stunning building was lucky enough to get new life after new life at one point being a restaurant and then insurance offices. The building would join the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and become home to the Great Outdoor store in 2009.