Essex owes its existence to the Great Northern Railway and its multi-tracked train yard. The steep grade on the west side of Marias Pass required a yard large enough for helper engines to idle and wait for heavy eastbound freight trains to assist them over the continental divide. Harsh winters also required sizable work gangs to keep the tracks clear. In 1939, Great Northern officials authorized construction of the Izaak Walton Inn to accommodate these crews. Today the Inn continues to serve rail crews and tourists with meals, rooms, photographs, tools, and memorabilia of the Glory Days of the Great Northern Railway.