Program

Historic Transportation

Subject

Building, Site, Transportation

Location

305 S 2nd St, Red Oak, IA 51566, USA

Lat/Long

41.002437, -95.231056

Grant Recipient

Save Our Depot, Inc

The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, running from Burlington, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska, established a depot in Red Oak, Iowa in 1869. In 1872, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was acquired by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.

Due to steep grades and periodic flooding, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad determined that a new line should be built to better serve the area. The railroad straightened tracks and reduced grades throughout southwest Iowa, including constructing a portion of elevated tracks through Red Oak located slightly south of the former line. As part of this project, the railroad also built a new passenger depot in Red Oak on elevated tracks to replace an old wooden depot which was located about half a mile away from the new location. The new depot was completed and opened in late 1903.

The depot continued to serve Red Oak for decades, including two significant moments in the history of the community when soldiers embarked from the depot during WWI and WWII.

In 1970, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad became part of the Burlington Northern Railroad, which later became the BNSF Railway Company. In 1995, the railroad abandoned the former depot in Red Oak and announced plans to demolish the building. In response, the organization Save Our Depot was formed to prevent the loss of the historic structure. The group was successful, and over several years worked to renovate the depot to be used as a museum dedicated to Red Oak’s railroad heritage and honoring veterans of the Second World War.

Links

• https://redoakdepotmuseum.com/