Train Depot and Lift Bridge

The railroad and rumors of the railroad brought many people to Rainer. In 1907, a bridge was built over the Ranier Rapids that connected Ranier with Fort Frances and the Canadian Railway system. This gave Ranier a Port of Entry status, and a building boom ensued. Besides the depot, many homes, several hotels, and several saloons went up in a hurry. Today, Ranier is the busiest port of entry in the United States.

The Ranier Lift Bridge is a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge, patented in 1890 and installed in 1907, and is one of the oldest cantilever bridges still in service.