De Smet station

De Smet
Former Chicago and North Western Railway passenger rail station
De Smet depot (2020)
General information
Location104 Calumet Ave NE, De Smet, South Dakota
Coordinates44°23′09″N 97°32′50″W / 44.38583°N 97.54722°W / 44.38583; -97.54722
History
Opened1906
Closed1960
Former services
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Manchester
toward Lead
Elroy – Lead Lake Preston
toward Elroy
Chicago Northwestern Depot
De Smet station is located in South Dakota
De Smet station
LocationHighway 25
De Smet, South Dakota
Coordinates44°23′09″N 97°32′50″W / 44.38583°N 97.54722°W / 44.38583; -97.54722
Built1906
ArchitectC&NW Building and Bridge Department
NRHP reference No.76001739
Added to NRHPDecember 12, 1976

The Chicago Northwestern Depot in De Smet, South Dakota was built by the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW). It began construction in June 1905 and was finished in August 1906. The depot is consistent with other small depots built during the early 1900's with its hip roof, red horizontal wood siding, trackside bay window and floor plan. Limestone blocks from Lime Siding, Minnesota, serve as the building's foundation. The depot features two waiting rooms, one for the men and one for the women, separated by the agent's office as well as a freight portion on one end.

The depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places because of its architecture and also because of its association with the development of De Smet. Passenger service ceased with the end of the Dakota 400 in 1960. Today, the former depot serves as a museum.

References

[edit]
  • Gerloff, Scott. Chicago Northwestern Railroad Depot at De Smet National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, National Park Service, Washington, DC, 1975.