Petoskey station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Station
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Depot Museum, 2015
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pioneer Park, W. Lake St., Petoskey, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | Mosser & Wilson |
| Architectural style | Shingle style |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000270 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Station is an old train station in Petoskey, Michigan. It sits in Pioneer Park on West Lake Street. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Today, it's home to the Little Traverse Historical Museum, where you can learn about the area's past.
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History of the Petoskey Train Station
Imagine Petoskey, Michigan, way back in 1874. Only one train company, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, served the town. But in 1891, another company, the Chicago and West Michigan Railway, decided to build its own train line.
They bought land right by Little Traverse Bay for their new station. A company called Mosser and Wilson built the station. Both the new rail line and the station were finished in 1892. The town of Petoskey even made a park, now called Pioneer Park, around the new train station.
How the Station Changed Hands
Over the years, the train station changed hands. In 1899, the Chicago and West Michigan Railway became part of the Pere Marquette Railway. Later, in 1947, the Pere Marquette Railway joined with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
These companies ran popular trains like the Resort Special from Chicago. This night train brought many visitors to Petoskey. The station served passengers until the 1950s, when it was no longer used for trains. Passenger trains stopped coming to Petoskey between 1961 and 1963.
From Station to Museum
In 1970, a group called the Little Traverse Regional Historical Society took over the old station. They wanted to save the building and share its history. They turned the building into a museum in 1971. Since then, it has been known as the Little Traverse Historical Museum.
What the Station Looks Like
The Chesapeake and Ohio Depot is right on the edge of Little Traverse Bay. It's a beautiful building built in the Shingle style. This style was popular in the Victorian era, giving the station a classic look.
The building is long and used to have open platforms at each end. These platforms were later enclosed during updates. A special covered entrance, called a porte cochere, extends from the front. On top of the building, you can see a short, cone-shaped roof. Next to this unique roof is a tall, thin chimney.
