History Buffs - A Trip to Fort Leonard Wood, MO is a MUST! Frisco Railroad Driving Tours
If you love learning about American history, a trip to Fort Leonard Wood should be at the top of your list! There is a lot to learn about our town and how the railroad formed trade and commerce which created the surrounding communities in Pulaski County. Pulaski County USA offers three self-driving tours that outline historic landmarks and even an accompanied audio tour within their app. Read on to learn more about the Frisco Railroad Self Driving Tour!
Frisco Railroad History
What the Wire Road, and later Route 66, did for the middle part of the county, the railroad did for the northern part of Pulaski County. In fact, it created the three largest late 19th century towns along its roadbed. It began in 1855 as the Southwest Branch of the Pacific Railroad, starting at Franklin (present Pacific) and track was laid as far as Rolla by 1860. The Civil War brought further construction westward to a halt. Loaded with debt, the South Pacific Railroad Co. was incorporated in 1868 to complete the work. More reorganization created the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Co. – the Frisco.
Some grading and tunneling had been done near what is now the front gate to Ft. Leonard Wood. When construction was resumed, it was determined that the “high road” was preferable. The “low road,” through Waynesville, was laced with deep valleys and deep mud, often referred to as quicksand. There weren’t any towns along the high road route – yet. To climb to the higher elevation of the plateau, the trains needed a helper engine. A roundhouse was constructed in Phelps County, creating the town of Newburg. A switch and siding were built between Newburg and Dixon for the helper engines need to boost the increasingly heavy trains up Dixon Hill. A depot, telegraph office, and a few stores grew up along the siding and this became known as Frank’s Switch.
On the plateau, the communities of Frank’s Switch, Dixon, Crocker, Swedeborg (originally called Woodend), Hancock, and Richland materialized in 1869. Commerce exploded. Subsistence farming now had an outlet to markets and new goods came into the county. Dixon, Crocker and Richland prospered along the rails, surpassing Waynesville, the oldest town and county seat, in population and business activity. The county south of Waynesville continued to be isolated from progress. The trains still rumble through the Frisco towns. The Frisco merged with the Burlington Northern in 1980.
History provided by Pulaski County USA
Frisco Railroad History Self-Drivin Tour
Pulaski County USA offers a comprehensive driving tour that is easy to follow and allows you to tour our town on your own time!
You can find the full driving tour with detailed directions and mile markers HERE or on our things to do page on our website! You can even enhance your tour qirh the Pulaski County USA app and Audio Tour!
Book Your Stay With Us at Fort Wood Hotels!
If you were just planning to pass through during your Route 66 road trip, we highly recommend staying in our area to take advantage of the driving tour and everything our gorgeous area has to offer. If you are looking for a fun weekend getaway, you'll find plenty to keep you busy in and around Fort Leonard Wood!
At Fort Wood Hotels, we have five top-notch hotels to choose from. Each hotel offers special perks, rewards, and amenities to suit your travel accommodations. Head to www.FortWoodHotels.com to compare hotels and book directly with us to ensure the best deals and customer service!
Staying for a day...a week...or a month? We've got you covered!
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