Building the Railroad of the Minnesota Valley

This document examines the emergence of railroads in the Minnesota River Valley during the 1850s and 1860s by focusing on the role of the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company (first known as the Root River and Southern Minnesota Land Company), which was later absorbed by the Minnesota Valley Railroad Company. Issues discussed include delays caused by the Panic of 1857 and by the Civil War, the progression of railroad construction, and the early use of the trains.