Grand Rapids Menu Selection:

• Amtrak Depot

• D&M/GTW Facilities

• Fuller Junction

• Hughart Yard (MC/NYC/PC/CR/NS)

• Interurban Railroads

• Pleasant Street Tower (C&O/PRR)

• Union Station

• West Side of Grand River

• Wyoming Yard (PM/C&O/CSX)

Grand Rapids Time Line:

• 1858: D&M arrives enroute to Muskegon

• 1867: GR&I builds north out of town

• 1869: LS&MS arrives from Allegan

• 1870: MCRR arrives from Jackson

• 1870: GR&I builds south out of town

• 1872: C&WM arrives from Holland

• 1872: C&WM extends north to Newaygo

• 1886: GR&I builds branch to Muskegon

• 1888: DL&N arrives from Ionia (Detroit)

     Grand Rapids was settled in 1820.  A post office was opened in 1826 and operated under several names.  The Village of Grand Rapids was incorporated in 1838 and became a City in 1850.  The City of Grand Rapids is the county seat for Kent County.  [MPN]

     Railroads entered Grand Rapids first in 1858 when the Detroit and Milwaukee (GTW) arrived from Detroit and and built west to the shore of Lake Michigan.  The second railroad built was the Grand

Rapids & Indiana, which was built north from town in 1867, nine years after the D&M.  In 1869, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern arrived on the west side of the river from Allegan, followed by the Michigan Central line from Jackson in 1870.  The Grand Rapids & Indiana built south to Kalamazoo in 1870 as well.  In 1872, the Chicago & West Michigan (later Pere Marquette) arrived in town from Holland (on the south side of the river) and extended north towards Newaygo (on the west side of the river) the same year.  In 1886 the GR&I built their branch line to Muskegon.  Finally, in 1888, the Detroit, Lansing & Northern arrived from Ionia, the last steam railroad to arrive in Grand Rapids.