It was built by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad in 1903-1904, and became the final tunnel of four to be built on the entire Rock Island railroad, all of which were in Missouri.
The tunnel is part of the Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri line, and travels beneath Bannister Road.
In 1980, the Rock Island was liquidated in court and the tunnel and line across Missouri was eventually sold to the St. Louis Southwestern Railway (or Cotton Belt).
[1] Since 1980, the line changed owners several times after the Rock Island went bankrupt.
Most of the line remains intact, as does the tunnel, except for a few places where it has been cut for road improvements.