1838: The first locomotive arrives in Ypsilanti

Toot! Toot! All aboard! Railroad track was laid all the way into the town of Ypsilanti, and in 1838 the first locomotive chugged into town from Detroit. Also Ypsilanti's first newspaper rolled off the presses.

Here is a later photograph from 1890 of the Michigan Central Railroad at the Ypsilanti train depot. Trains used to be the easiest, fastest way to get around. Have you ever ridden on a train? How can you tell from the picture that this is a Michigan Central Railroad train?

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