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 cool old building in Naples, Florida. It's also known as the Naples Railroad Depot. This historic building used to be a busy train depot where people and goods arrived and departed.
You can find it at 1051 5th Avenue, South. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the past!
Contents
A Look Back at the Station's History
Building the Naples Train Station
The Naples train station was built in 1927. It was part of a new train line created by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad company. This company wanted to connect Naples to other cities.
The station was designed in a special style called Mediterranean Revival. This style was popular for many train stations in Florida at that time. It even looked almost exactly like another station in Hialeah!
Early Train Services
For a short time in the late 1920s, people could ride passenger trains to Naples. But by 1933, the train company decided to only carry goods, not people, to Naples. Later, in the 1940s, even the freight service stopped.
During World War II, the station was used for something special. It hosted USO shows for soldiers. These shows entertained troops stationed at the nearby Naples airfield.
New Owners and New Life
In 1944, another big train company, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, bought the station. They also bought the train tracks leading to Naples. This company started passenger train service again after 11 years!
It's pretty unique because this station was used by both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line companies. They both ran trains from this very spot before they joined together.
The End of Train Travel
In 1967, the two big train companies, Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line, merged. They became the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. So, the "Seaboard" name returned to the station!
However, passenger train service finally ended in 1971. This was when a new national train service called Amtrak took over most passenger routes.
On September 10, 1974, the Naples train station became a very important landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected. Freight service stopped completely in the late 1970s. The train tracks next to the station were removed in 1980.
The Naples Depot Museum Today
What to See at the Museum
The old train station has been beautifully restored! Now, it's the Naples Depot Museum. It's run by the Collier County Museums.
The museum teaches visitors all about how people traveled and traded in Southwest Florida long ago. You can see cool exhibits about railroads, and even real Seminole dugout canoes. There's also an old mule wagon and a unique swamp buggy on display.
Trains and More Trains!
Outside the building, you can explore real vintage railcars. These are old train cars that were once used for travel.
Inside, there's a special Lionel Train Museum. It's filled with amazing model trains! You can see tiny trains chugging along miniature tracks. There's even a small miniature railway that runs around the museum property. It's a great place to learn about trains and history!
