Saint Helena Southern Pacific Railroad Depot facts for kids
The Saint Helena Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is an old train station located in St. Helena, California. It was once a busy hub for trains carrying both people and goods.
Quick facts for kids
Saint Helena
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The Depot in 2011
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| Location | 1500 Railroad Ave. St. Helena, California |
| Owned by | Southern Pacific |
| History | |
| Opened | c. 1895 |
| Closed | 1929 (passenger) 1975 (freight) |
| Rebuilt | 1996 |
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Saint Helena Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
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 Saint Helena Depot
Location in California
Saint Helena Depot
Location in the United States
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 1895 |
| Built by | Southern Pacific |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001535 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 1997 |
Contents
A Look Back at the Depot's History
The Saint Helena Depot has a long and interesting past. It played an important role in the Napa wine region.
Why the Station Was Built
In the late 1800s, many wineries in Europe faced a big problem. A plant disease called Phylloxera was harming their grapevines. This meant less wine could be made in Europe. Because of this, the Southern Pacific railroad expected more fruit to be shipped from the Napa Valley. They decided to build new stations to handle the extra goods. The Saint Helena Depot opened around 1895. It was a two-story building, designed using a common railroad plan.
Changes in Passenger Service
For a while, people traveled by train from the depot. But in 1904, a new electric railway called the Napa Valley Electric Railway started. This new railway made it easier for people to travel. Because of this, fewer people used the Saint Helena Depot for passenger trains. By 1929, passenger services at the depot stopped completely. However, the station still continued to ship goods by freight train.
The Depot on the Big Screen
The station building even appeared in a movie! In 1959, it was used as the fictional Harrington, Vermont train station. This was for the film Pollyanna. It's cool to think a local building was part of a Hollywood movie.
The End of an Era and New Beginnings
In 1975, the Southern Pacific railroad officially stopped using the rail line and the depot. This meant no more trains, even for freight. However, the train tracks were later used again. This happened when the Napa Valley Wine Train started its special tours.
Restoring a Historic Building
The depot faced some tough times. It was damaged by fire twice, once in 1989 and again in 1993. But the community worked to fix it. In 1996, the building was greatly repaired and updated. The National Park Service approved these important changes. Because of its history and restoration, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 1997. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
