Naples station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Naples, Florida |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | L. Philips Clarke |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000613 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1974 |
The Naples Seaboard Air Line Railway Station is a historic train station in Naples, Florida. It is also known as the Naples Railroad Depot. This old building once served as a busy hub for trains carrying people and goods. Today, it is a fun museum where you can learn about the history of transportation in Southwest Florida. You can find it at 1051 5th Avenue, South.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building the Station
The Naples Railroad Depot was built in 1927. The Seaboard Air Line Railroad constructed it when they extended their railway line to Naples. The building was designed in a special style called Mediterranean Revival. Many other Seaboard Air Line stations in Florida, like those in Delray Beach and Hialeah, looked similar. In fact, the Naples station looks almost exactly like the Hialeah depot!
Trains Come and Go
At first, the station offered passenger service, meaning people could ride trains from here. But this only lasted a short time in the late 1920s. By 1933, the railroad mainly used the line for freight service, carrying goods instead of people. Seaboard stopped freight service in the 1940s. During World War II, the depot even hosted special shows for soldiers from the nearby Naples airfield.
New Owners and Mergers
In 1944, another company called the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought the depot and the tracks. They connected the old Seaboard track to their own line. After being closed for eleven years, passenger trains started running from the depot again! This station is special because both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line used it before they merged. The Atlantic Coast Line used to have another depot in Naples, but it was later torn down.
Interestingly, the "Seaboard" name returned in 1967. This happened when the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line. The new company was called the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Passenger service finally ended in 1971 when Amtrak took over national passenger rail. On September 10, 1974, the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic site in the United States. Freight service stopped completely in the late 1970s, and the nearby tracks were removed in 1980.
From Station to Museum
Today, the old train station has been fully restored. It is now operated by the Collier County Museums as the Naples Depot Museum.
What You Can See
The museum teaches visitors about the history of transportation and trade in Southwest Florida. You can see many interesting things, including:
- Displays about railroads
- Old Seminole dugout canoes
- A mule wagon
- An antique swamp buggy
Outside the building, you can even see real vintage railcars! Inside, there is also a special Lionel Train Museum. It is dedicated to amazing model trains. A fun miniature railway also runs around the outside of the property, which is great for kids!
