In 1900-01 the Omaha double tracked their railroad from Altoona, Wisconsin to milepost 87 in Eau Claire with gantlet track over the Eau Claire River bridge. Interlocking signals and derail controls were installed in a tower located on the west side of the bridge and north of the tracks. This machinery was moved to the Milwaukee Crossing Tower in 1926.

   The first of the all new, all electric interlocking systems in the nation was employed to handle the double track installation. The following quote is from a General Railway Co. (Rochester, NY) publication and substantiates this fact: "Then in 1901, the Taylor Signal Co., one of the predecessors of the G.R.S., put in service the first all electric, dynamic indication interlocking at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway."

   The Omaha Road extended their double track from M.P. 87 to just east of Hudson, Wisconsin and changed their block signalling system to a command control system in 1912-13. To conform to this, the General Railway Signal Co. installed a 28 lever manual interlocking machine to replace the 1901 equipment. This remains in the building today.

   Near the end of World War II, extensive changes were made to the 28 lever machine in conjunction with track changes involving the Milwaukee Road, SOO Line and Omaha entry into the Gillette Tire plant (present Banbury Place, ex Uniroyal Tire). At this same time, the tower building was relocated about 100 feet to the west. Rotating banner crossing signals were installed on Galloway Street. These signals were manually controlled from the tower.

   In May of 1958, telegraph, teletype, train dispatchers phone and related equipment were installed in the tower. This was done as a result of closing the train dispatchers office in the Omaha depot. Prior to this, the only communication in the tower was a crank block telephone connecting the tower with the telegrapher in Altoona and the dispatcher in the depot. The buliding was then designated as the Eau Claire Tower.

   During the years to come, several modifications were made to the tower equipment and lever machine as track changes were made. Tower personnel also witnessed many train movements which signalled the passing of an era. These include the last runs of the Chicago 400 & 401 streamlined passenger trains on July 23, 1963; the Milwaukee Road ceasing operations in April of 1980 and the SOO Line discontinuing operation over the Milwaukee Road at the end of April, 1987.

   In 1991-92, the Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Co. removed their westbound mainline from M.P. 89 in Altoona to M.P. 87 in Eau Claire, realigned the eastbound track over the Eau Claire River bridge and removed derails which had been on the east end of the bridge on the westward track. Control of the power switches at M.P. 87 was transferred to train dispatchers in Chicago, Illinois. Operations ceased at the Eau Claire Tower on November 21, 1991. Over the years, the facility was maintained by the Omaha Road (later C&NW) with the Milwaukee Road paying a portion of the operational expenses and reclaiming a portion of that expense from the SOO Line Railroad.

   On November 19, 1991, a verbal agreement was made between the C&NW Transportation Co. Treasurers Office and the Chippewa Valley Railroad Association to donate the building and obsolete equipment to the latter organization. This agreement was confirmed in a document dated November 20, 1991, with the understanding the tower building would be removed from C&NW property. Such a move was made on January 23, 1992 to a temporary strorage site. The tower was moved again on May 27, 1992 to Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and set on a permanent foundation. The tower is being renovated and equipped as before and used as an interpretive display in conjunction with the C.V.R.R. Associations one-quarter scale trains.

   During the 95 years of the Eau Claire Towers operation, some 100 individuals, including 4 women, worked in this facility. The tower is dedicated to their years of service and to all the persons, past, present and future who have worked for the railroads serving the Chippewa Valley.