Lakeland PBS to Premiere Last Stop Depot Documentary Jan. 29

Lakeland PBS will premiere the documentary The Last Stop: Railroad Depots of Minnesota at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, with a re-airing planned for Jan. 31 and on-demand availability via the PBS App beginning Jan. 29. The film, produced by Lakeland PBS’ Randy Cadwell, examines the history, architecture and community role of Minnesota’s railroad depots and was inspired by Bill Schrankler’s book on surviving depots.

An early, free screening is scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Little Falls Chamber of Commerce inside the Historic Little Falls Depot; RSVPs are requested by phone or email. Cadwell’s personal connection to the subject - he is the son of a depot agent - shapes the film’s focus on the human and civic ties that once centered town life around rail service.

For Beltrami County residents, the documentary offers more than nostalgia. Railroad depots were physical hubs of commerce, information and civic interaction across Minnesota, and they remain touchstones in local planning and preservation debates. The film provides visual and historical context that local governments, historical societies and civic groups can use when weighing preservation priorities, adaptive reuse proposals and downtown revitalization projects.

Public officials considering infrastructure and land-use decisions may find the documentary useful as a conversation starter on how historic assets contribute to place-making and economic development. Preservation of depots often intersects with grant eligibility, zoning decisions and tourism strategies; showing this documentary at community meetings, libraries or city council work sessions could help illustrate the cultural and economic trade-offs at stake.

Civic engagement will determine how communities treat these buildings going forward. The documentary’s statewide scope can help residents identify common preservation tools and local partners that have successfully repurposed depots for museums, community centers or commercial uses. Local historical organizations and chambers of commerce can use the film to mobilize volunteers, attract visitors and support applications for preservation funding.

All aboard for a community conversation: residents can view the premiere on Lakeland PBS Jan. 29, catch the re-airing Jan. 31, or stream it on demand via the PBS App beginning Jan. 29. The free screening on Jan. 23 at the Historic Little Falls Depot provides an early opportunity to see the film and begin linking its themes to preservation choices and civic planning discussions here in Beltrami County.