Milwaukee and Madison Railway Depot
The Depot was built in 1881 and acquired by Chicago Northwestern Railway in 1882. The local limestone and cream-colored brick building is in the Victorian gothic style.
Commercial travelers, tourists visiting Springs Era resorts & spas, home seekers and business entrepreneurs traveled to and from this depot on 16 trains a day. In 1894, the first interburban train, carrying people to Waukesha Beach, left from this depot. On October 14, 1948, President Harry S. Truman made a ten-minute speech at this depot in front of 10,000 people.
In the mid-1950's, passenger service ended. The depot was vacated by the railroad in 1964. It stood empty until 1973, when it was purchased and rehabilitated as a restaurant. Several restaurants have operated here since thus providing the historic station with a colorful second life.
Marker is on Williams Street west of North Grand Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
