Louisville and Nashville Depot (Milton, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Louisville and Nashville Depot
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Location | Milton, Florida |
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Built | 1909 |
Architect | L & N Engineering Department |
NRHP reference No. | 82001041 |
Added to NRHP | October 29, 1982 |
The Louisville and Nashville Depot is a historic train station found in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. It was built in 1909. This new station replaced an older one from 1882 that had burned down in 1907.
The station was an important part of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad system. It served the community for many years. In 1973, the station closed its doors. However, it was partly fixed up in 1976 with a special grant.
On October 29, 1982, this depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a very important historic site. Today, the Santa Rosa Historical Society owns the building.
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West Florida Railroad Museum: A Journey Through Time
The West Florida Railroad Museum opened inside the old depot in 1989. This museum is a fantastic place to learn about trains and railroad history. It has a cool collection of old railroad cars and other items.
Exploring the Train Cars
You can see different types of train cars at the museum. There are two dining cars where people used to eat their meals. You can also find two former Pullman Company sleeper cars. These were changed into baggage-dormitory cars for the L&N Railroad.
The museum also has two caboose cars. These are the small cars at the very end of a freight train. You can also see a boxcar and a flatcar. These cars were used to carry goods.
Other Interesting Exhibits
Beyond the train cars, the museum features a bridge tender's house. This small building came from the Escambia Bay trestle bridge. A bridge tender would have lived or worked there to operate the bridge. There's also a section shed with a motor car.
Model Railroad Fun
The museum is home to two model railroad clubs. These clubs build amazing miniature train layouts. They are the West Florida Model Railroad Club and the Emerald Coast Garden Railway Club. It's a great way to see trains in action, even if they are tiny!