Friday, July 29, 2022

Spokane's Railroads & Railroad History

 


How many of us recognize this as the old Great Northern Train Station in Spokane, of which only the Clock Tower remains in Riverfront Park?

Quoting Dale Swant, director of the Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Reardan: "Spokane was a major hub for a number of railroads in the late 1800s right up to today. Companies like the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Burlington Northern, Milwaukee Road, Union Pacific, Spokane International and Spokane, Portland & Seattle railroads served the area and branched out to almost every community to serve farmers, ranchers and passengers who used railroads as their primary form of transportation and shipping."

Quite likely your Inland Northwest ancestor came via the railroad. Hundreds of books have been written about the railroad history in our area but likely you won't have time to find and read them all. Your best best is to visit the Inland Northwest Rail Museum.  Open Friday-Sunday, 10-5, on Hwy 2 just west of Reardan. Check out their website:

www.inlandnwrailmuseum.com

This would be a fantastic family outing! They schedule frequent special events............ stay tuned to the website. 





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