Off the Rails in Little Falls, MN

Posted in: Blog

Cass Gilbert Depot

All Aboard!

Little Falls is rich with history. We have an abundance of historic homes, buildings, and sites for visitors and residents alike to explore. One such historic site is the Cass Gilbert Depot.

Northern Pacific Railroad

History

The Cass Gilbert Depot, formerly known as the Northern Pacific Depot, started construction in 1899 and was completed in 1900. It was designed by Cass Gilbert and was used for passenger services until the 1970s when it was discontinued. The depot then became a hub for railroad operation and storage. In 1979, a fire caused damage to the buildings interior, but three years later a local group of citizens known as the Cass Gilbert Depot Society worked to have the building restored though much of the buildings original construction exists.

Cass Gilbert Depot

Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

In 1988, the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce signed a 99-year lease deal with Burlington Northern Railroad. They have been operating out of the depot ever since. Towards the end of 2023, the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau officially merged with the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce to create a new organization, the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. The new organization agreed to operate out of the Cass Gilbert Depot and visitors, residents, and local businesses are encouraged to stop in to see the depot as well as use the services provided by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

Cass Gilbert Depot

Train Cam

A cool new addition that any train fanatic will enjoy is the Little Falls, MN PTZ Cam brought to you by the Northern Transcon Railcams – Otter Tail Channel (NTR-OTC) and the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Watch live cam footage of the railroad just behind the Cass Gilbert Depot day or night! You’ll be able to see the trains as they come through in real time by visiting this link.

Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum

Learn More

For more on trains and railroads, you can grab a copy of the Little Falls Historic Downtown Walking & Driving Tour from the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism office. You can also get the information and videos online. The video for the Northern Pacific Railroad can be found here. Another great place to learn more is at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. Home to the Morrison County Historical Society, visitors can tour the museum for free Wednesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and ask their friendly staff about the history of trains in Morrison County and any other history questions they might have.

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Little Falls Chamber and Tourism

200 1st Street NW
Little Falls, MN 56345

320-632-5155
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About Visit Little Falls

Established in 1999 and recently strengthened by the merger of the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, we've become the region's leading tourism force. Our passionate team acts as your one-stop shop for crafting unforgettable experiences in Little Falls, MN. We answer visitor inquiries, assist convention planners, and collaborate with group tour operators to ensure a fun and engaging stay for everyone.

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