The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot in Redfield turned 100 years old this week. A railroad historian says it’s impossible to talk about the development of South Dakota without talking about trains.
Rick Mills is the Director at the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City. He says in the late 1800’s homesteading and railroads went hand in hand. Lines established during that time influenced the state’s culture, political, and business climate.
“So many things that are iconic and bedrock issues and institutions here in South Dakota were heavily influenced by where the railroads were developed, who developed them, where the railroads were actually built, into which communities,” Mills says.
Mills says it’s important to remember the past, and move forward knowing that railroads are still a vital part of South Dakota today.