Milton station (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Louisville and Nashville Depot
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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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 an old train station in Milton, Florida. It is located at 206 Henry Street in Santa Rosa County, Florida. A "depot" is a building where trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers and goods.
This historic building was finished in 1909. It was built where an even older train station once stood. That first station, from the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, was built in 1882. Sadly, it burned down in 1907. The new depot served the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
In 1973, the train station closed its doors. A few years later, in 1976, it received money from a special grant. This grant helped to celebrate America's 200th birthday (Bicentennial). The money helped to fix up parts of the old depot.
On October 29, 1982, the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical sites in the United States. Being on this list helps protect old buildings. In 1989, the depot was also featured in a book about Florida's historic buildings.
Today, the Santa Rosa Historical Society owns this important building. They help to keep its history alive for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
The West Florida Railroad Museum
Exploring Train History
The West Florida Railroad Museum opened inside the old depot in 1989. It is a fun place to learn about trains and their history. The museum has many cool items from different railroads. You can see things from the L & N Railroad and the Frisco Railroad. These items are called "memorabilia," which means things kept because they are special or remind us of the past.
Amazing Train Cars on Display
At the museum, you can explore many different types of old train cars. Imagine stepping inside a real dining car! There are two of these, where passengers used to eat meals. You can also see two former Pullman Company sleeper cars. These were special cars where people could sleep on long journeys. They were later changed into L&N baggage-dormitory cars. This meant they carried luggage and also had rooms for train workers.
The museum also has two caboose cars. A caboose is a special car at the very end of a freight train. It was where the train crew would ride. You can also see a boxcar, which carried goods, and a flatcar, which carried large, heavy items.
Unique Railroad Structures
Beyond the train cars, the museum has other interesting structures. There is a bridge tender's house from the Escambia Bay trestle bridge. A bridge tender's house was where a worker lived or stayed to operate a movable bridge. The museum also has a section shed with a motor car. A section shed was used to store tools and equipment for maintaining the tracks. A motor car was a small vehicle used by workers to travel along the railway lines.
Model Railroad Fun
The museum is also home to two exciting model railroad clubs. The West Florida Model Railroad Club builds and runs detailed miniature train sets. The Emerald Coast Garden Railway Club focuses on larger model trains. These trains are often set up in outdoor gardens. Both clubs share a love for trains, just in a smaller size!
Images for kids
