Downtown Brookings developed with its commercial, public, and civic buildings clustered near the railroad depot, creating the town's main street. As in many towns of that era, Brookings' main street and railroad line formed a T shape. The Chicago and North Western Railroad line arrived in Brookings at 6 p.m. on October 18, 1879, entering at an angle that created a triangle of land north of the depot. That area became a park with plantings, walkways, and a fountain, and later the Masonic Lodge and armory-auditorium were built on part of the property. Most of Brookings' downtown buildings date from the twentieth century, except for the Masonic Temple, built in 1894 at 225 Main Ave., and the Binford Building, built in 1899 at 400 Main Ave. Landmark buildings in the district include the New Century Block at 302 Main Ave., First National Bank at 327 Main Ave., and the 1912 City Hall at 310 Fourth St.