Herndon Depot Museum facts for kids
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Herndon Depot
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The former Herndon Depot, now the Herndon Historical Society Museum.
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1857, 1875 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003039 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1979 |
The Herndon Depot Museum is also known as the Herndon Historical Society Museum. You can find it in the town of Herndon, which is in Fairfax County, Virginia.
This building was first built in 1857. It was a depot for the Alexandria, Loudoun & Hampshire Railroad. Over the years, other railroads like the Southern Railway used it too. In 1875, the original building was replaced with the one you see today.
Contents
Discover the Herndon Depot Museum
The Herndon Depot Museum is located at 717 Lynn Street. It sits where the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail meets Station Street. Right next to it is Town Hall Square. This area includes the Herndon Town Hall. The Town Hall was built in 1939. It was a Works Progress Administration project. This project helped create jobs during tough economic times.
What You Can See Inside
The museum is full of cool things! You can see items related to railroads. There is also information about United States Navy Commander William Lewis Herndon. The town of Herndon was named after him.
The museum also has artifacts from the USS Herndon (DD-198). This was a ship from World War II. You can also find items from local residents. The Herndon Historical Society runs the museum. They work hard to keep its history alive.
A Civil War Story
The Herndon Depot was part of an important event during the American Civil War. In March 1863, Confederate Army Captain John S. Mosby led a raid here. Mosby and his men surprised the Union Army soldiers guarding the station. They captured officers, soldiers, and horses. The amazing part is that no Confederate soldiers were hurt.
The Depot's Role in Herndon's History
The railroad was very important to Herndon's history. Many large dairy farms were around the village. Farmers would ship milk on the railroad every day. It went to Washington for processing.
The train station became a central part of the community. Many businesses opened up near the station. They liked having easy access to transportation. The depot was also a meeting place for people in Herndon. It even had a potbellied stove to keep everyone warm. The town's name, Herndon, was actually chosen right inside the depot.
The End of an Era
As cars and trucks became more common, the railroad was used less. The last passenger train left Herndon in 1952. After that, the depot was only used to unload freight. Its last big job was hauling sand. This sand was used to build runways for Washington Dulles International Airport. The railroad and the depot officially closed in August 1968.
Saving the Depot
In 1969, some business owners wanted to tear down the depot. They thought it looked bad. The company that owned it also saw it as a fire risk. But local historical groups fought to save it. Service groups promised to help fix it up. Because of their efforts, the depot was saved!
In 1970, the Herndon Historical Society was formed. They started working to restore the depot. The restoration was finished in 1974.
The Building's Design
The depot building is a rectangular, one-story structure. It is made of wood. It measures about 70.5 feet long and 20.1 feet wide. The only decorations are Victorian style supports under the roof. The window and door frames are original. The two baggage doors are also original. You can still see the semaphore and some old hardware.
A Historic Landmark
The United States Department of the Interior added the building to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on June 18, 1979. The depot's location is also part of the Virginia Civil War Trails Program. This program marks important sites from the Civil War.
