Duluth Depot facts for kids
The Depot viewed from the north
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| Established | 1973 |
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| Location | 506 W. Michigan Street, Duluth, Minnesota, United States |
| Type | Arts and Culture Center |
| Architect | Peabody and Stearns |
| Public transit access |  DTA |
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Duluth, MN
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| Former Amtrak inter-city rail station | ||
The North Star at the Duluth Depot,
September 1981 |
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| Line(s) |
North Star
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| Platforms | 3 island platform 1 side platform |
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| Tracks | 7 | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1892 | |
| Closed | 1985 | |
| Proposed services | ||
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St. Louis County Depot
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| Architectural style | Châteauesque | |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001028 | |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1971 | |
| Location | ||
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The St. Louis County Depot is a super cool historic building in Duluth, Minnesota. It used to be a busy train station, built way back in 1892. At one point, seven different train lines used it! Train service stopped in 1969, and the building was almost torn down. But luckily, it was saved and reopened in 1973 as the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, also known as The Depot.
Today, St. Louis County owns the building. It's now home to three museums: the Duluth Art Institute, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and the St. Louis County Historical Society Museum. It also houses two performing arts groups, the Duluth Playhouse and the Minnesota Ballet. Plus, it's where the North Shore Scenic Railroad train rides begin!
Contents
What is the Depot Like Today?
The Depot is located at 506 West Michigan Avenue, right near I-35. This amazing old building holds many modern and historical artworks and items. It also has a special theater for trying out new performances. The main hall, called the Great Hall, is often used for public events.
Inside the Building
An addition built in 1977 includes a large theater and a ballet studio. Downstairs, where the trains used to be, there are still platforms. One is a side platform, and three are island platforms. These give access to seven tracks. One track is still active for the scenic railroad. The other tracks are used to display cool old trains and train cars.
A Look Back: The Depot's History
The building you see today is actually the second train station on this spot. The very first one was a small wooden building, built in 1869. That same year, many Swedish immigrants came to Duluth. They were looking for work on the first railroad line in the city.
Who Designed the Depot?
The famous architectural firm Peabody and Stearns designed The Depot. They used many local materials to build it, like granite, sandstone, and yellow brick. The building looks like a French castle! It took two years to build and cost $615,000. It was finished in 1892, and the older wooden station was then taken down.
Busy Train Station Days
For many years, The Depot was a very busy place. It served seven different railroads:
- Duluth & Iron Range
- Duluth, Missabe, & Iron Range
- Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic
- Duluth Missabe & Northern
- Great Northern Railway
- Northern Pacific
- Saint Paul & Duluth
What Was Inside the Old Depot?
The main entrance on Michigan Street led into a big "general waiting room," which is now called the Great Hall. This room had a newsstand and a lunch counter. There was also a barber shop, a Western Union telegraph office, a smoking room, a ladies' waiting room, and a men's restroom.
A huge roof, called a train shed, used to cover the platforms. But it was removed in 1924. It was replaced with the canopies you see there today.
When Did Trains Stop Running?
The last passenger trains left The Depot in the late 1960s. These were the Great Northern Railway's Badger and Gopher trains, which went to Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Northern Pacific Railway also ran local trains to St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Staples, Minnesota.
The station officially closed in 1969. It was almost torn down, but it was bought from the railroad for a low price of $250,000. Even though the building was in great shape, it still cost $4.7 million to fix it up.
A National Landmark
In 1971, The Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historic site. It was recognized as a special example of the large train stations from that time. These stations connected Duluth to the rest of the country.
Amtrak Service at The Depot
Even after it became a heritage center, Amtrak (the national passenger rail service) used The Depot for almost ten years, from 1977 to 1985.
- In 1975, Amtrak started the Arrowhead train. It ran from Minneapolis to Superior, Wisconsin, which is just south of Duluth.
- By 1977, the Arrowhead train was extended to The Depot in Duluth.
- In 1978, the North Star train replaced the Arrowhead. It even went all the way to Chicago, Illinois!
- In 1985, Amtrak stopped the North Star train. This meant all passenger train service to Duluth ended.
What Happens at The Depot Now?
The Depot is a busy place with many different organizations.
North Shore Scenic Railroad
You can take fun train rides from The Depot on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. This is a special heritage railroad run by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. You can take trips that last from one to six hours. They go along Lake Superior's northern shore to places like the Lester River, Palmers, and Two Harbors. They also have special trips throughout the year.
St. Louis County Historical Society
The St. Louis County Historical Society has exhibits inside The Depot. One important exhibit is the Veterans Memorial Hall.
Duluth Art Institute
The Duluth Art Institute shows art in several galleries within The Depot. These include the George Morrison Gallery, John Steffl Gallery, and Corridor Gallery. They also display art in the Depot's Great Hall and Performing Arts Wing.
Minnesota Ballet
The Minnesota Ballet has three practice spaces inside The Depot. They sometimes hold events and performances in the building too.
Future Train Plans
There are plans to bring passenger train service back to The Depot! In 2011, there were ideas to update the station for the Northern Lights Express. This would be a higher-speed train service from Minneapolis to Duluth. The project would be about 155 miles long. It would follow a route similar to Amtrak's old North Star train. Stops would include Coon Rapids, Isanti, Cambridge, and Hinckley in Minnesota, and also Superior, Wisconsin.
See also
