Historic Decatur Union Depot
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701 Railroad St, NW Tour Hours Monday-Friday 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm Museum Director
Events & Rentals Suzanne Langdon 256-280-1666
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The Depot was Alabama Main Street's 2015-2016 Historic Preservation Project of the Year. The historic Decatur union passenger depot was built by the Southern Railway in 1905. It is a symbol of the city’s rich railroad heritage which extends back to the 1830s, when the first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains, Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur was built. A union depot was the result of the joint use of the depot by two railroads, the Southern and the Louisville & Nashville railroads.
The complete restoration of the union depot in 2015 and early 2016 sensitively preserved most of the original architectural elements of the building, including high ceilings, original doors, windows, wainscoting and door and window facings, and original brick and plaster walls. The building is shared with the Decatur Police Department.
The depot’s original 1905 BAGGAGE CART is located on the loading dock as are a number of interesting artifacts. The John R. Cook Jr. and Lynn Cook WOODEN VIEWING PLATFORM is a particularly special place for train watching. The loading dock area can be utilized by small groups for functions where train watching is a treat. BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES in this area make this an especially wonderful place to enjoy a meal or a function.
We hope that you enjoy the Depot and that you will also visit the four additional museums located within about a block from the depot as well as the fabulous Cook Museum of Natural Science also located in the downtown area. Both historic shops and historic homes surround this area and are a treat for Decatur citizens and visitors alike. We invite you to be “All aboard!” for an exciting day in historic Decatur, Alabama.
click the image for a great video
Visit these other museums just a short distance from the Depot:
Cook Museum of Natural Science
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