Mineral Point, WI: 1856 Museum/Milwaukee Depot, Oldest Surviving Depot in Wisconsin

(Satellite, 43 photos)

Street View, May 2023

Bryan Much posted four photos with the comment:

Mineral Point.  Info from Travel Wisconsin: "The Mineral Point depot was built in 1856 from local materials, and has survived to become the oldest depot in Wisconsin. It was in operation from 1856-1984. After a six year restoration project, the depot reopened in Sept 2004. The museum artifact collection brings to life the stories of the men and women who worked the railroad. Exhibits cover the construction of the depot and railroad by the Mineral Point Railroad Company; the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul (and Pacific) Railway, also known as the Milwaukee Road; the Mineral Point Zinc Works, which operated the nation’s largest zinc oxide plant as well as the Mineral Point and Northern Railroad (Mineral Point’s second railroad line); railroad tools; depot agents and telegraph operators; and more."

James Stroschein: This depot is also one of the only pre-Civil War depots remaining in the United States. I was in this building in the mid-late 1990s when there was 2 feet of mud under the floorboards.

Dave Martens: James Stroschein agreed Jim. Hard to believe how much work was needed to restore it but here we are

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Alan Christensen commented on Bryan's post

A few pics I had saved.

Alan Christensen commented on Bryan's post
One of the last trains through.

Photo, May 2016

When I looked at Mineral Springs on the 2005 SPV Map, two railroads terminated here. I presumed that meant that something was mined near here.

In fact, in the 1830s, it was lead. That makes sense since I knew there was lead mining in Galena, IL. By 1880, the emphasis had switched to zinc mining. The zinc plant in Mineral Point became one of the largest zinc facilities in the United States. The Milwaukee Road accessed the town from the south. Later, the Mineral Point & Northern was built to bring zinc from Highland and Linden to the zinc plant in Mineral Point. [mprs_history] (I included Platteville, WI, because I noticed that two railroads terminated at that town as well. In this case it was the Milwaukee and C&NW. I wonder what was mined near that town.)

1905/34 Richland Center and 1902/49 Mineral Point Quads @ 125,000

Racine Railroad Products posted five photos with the comment:

The Mineral Point Railroad Museum is Wisconsin’s oldest surviving railroad depot. The two-story limestone structure was built in 1856 by stonemasons John Toay and Philip Allen.  

In the 1830s when Mineral Point’s early settlers began mining lead there were few navigable roads to move the lead to market. The Mineral Point Railroad (MPRR) was formed in 1851 to connect with the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) in Warren, IL. The first train arrived from Warren in June 1857. In the late 1870s, many smaller railroads were merged. The Milwaukee Road purchased the Mineral Point Railroad in 1880. Zinc became a valuable export in Southwestern Wisconsin, and the railroad helped the Mineral Point Zinc Company to eventually become one of the nation’s largest zinc oxide facilities. 

The structure also functioned as a passenger depot until 1929. The rails were removed in 1984, and the depot remained vacant until restoration began in 2000. The Mineral Point Depot was reopened to the public in 2004. It’s located at 11 Commerce St and open seasonally May through October. 

The Mineral Point Railroad Museum is one of only a few remaining pre-Civil War depots in the United States.  

#railroad #railroadhistory #wisconsinhistory

Sources: Mineral Point Railroad Museum, Wikipedia, Wisconsin Historical Society

Racine Railroad Products shared with the comment: "Wisconsin's oldest surviving railroad depot."

Dave Martens: See www.mprs.org

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