Remembrance
Timeline 1845-1854In their own words The era and the effort
Founders: Tragedy to triumph
Builders: Executing the plan.
Rock Island throws a party
Note on sources Railroad home
Celebrations
Grand Excursion 2004Quad-Cities Tourism
A taste of 1854
R.I. Lines links
Rock Island Technical SocietyMatt Willett's R. I. Family Tree
Preservation of the C, RI & P
Illinois Trails
Related links
R.I. County Historical SocietyCol Davenport House
Putnam Museum
Quad-Cities Online
A remembrance on the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first train in Rock Island Feb. 22, 1854
A train steams proudly along Rock Island's riverfront in this circa-1856 lithograph from The Rock Island County Historical Society. The tip of Rock Island (Arsenal Island) is at the right center. Just above it is visible the first railroad bridge, completed in 1856. The train is just east of where the National Guard Armory is today. Larger view of this pictureAnniversary stories from The Argus/Dispatch. Feb. 22, 2004
The era and the effort: "A grand new technology..."Founders: Vision, tragedy, travail -- and triumph
Builders: Two easterners enlarge the plan, and execute it.
Train Day: Rock Island throws a party