The Boise Depot (Union Pacific)
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cachegame
N 43° 36.145 W 116° 12.888
11T E 563371 N 4828015
One of the most photographed buildings in boise.
Waymark Code: WMM68
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 08/14/2006
Views: 167
1881
Oregon Short Line Railroad was incorporated as subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad.
1883
Oregon Short Line Railroad constructed Main Line roughly following Oregon Trail. The route by-passed Boise.
1887
Boise Citys first depot, a modest board and batten structure, was built on the Bench a short distance from the present building. Branch line from Nampa to Boise was completed. Trains had to back in from Nampa.
1893
Oregon Short Line built stone depot at 10th and Front Streets.
1922
August 14: Contract between Oregon Short Line and Boise Chamber of Commerce was signed for the railroad to build a railroad line and provide through train service by way of the City of Boise. The Chamber agreed to raise funds to pay all taxes on the new line and to secure a Citizens Right of Way extending through the city, which was conveyed to the Railroad by warranty deed.
1924
New York architects Carrere, Hastings, Shreve and Lando prepared plans for Spanish-style station on the present spectacular site, featuring a grand boulevard plan on a radial with access to the State Capital.
June 5: Floor plans and elevations displayed in Mayor E.B. Shermans office showed the entire building of concrete or brick covered with stucco. The roof would be heavily timbered and covered with terra cotta tile. All flashings and gutters would be of copper while the floors were to be of tile mosaic. The windows were of elaborate design, including ornamental bronze grille work, and the structure would be trimmed with cut stone. Estimated cost was $150,000.
June 27: A public vote defeated a $125,000 bond issue to build a Seventh Street station approach.
July 4: Contract to build station was let to Cherdon Construction Co. of Salt Lake City.
August 1: Depot construction began. L.W. Althoff was engineer in charge. Boise contractor John U. Rathman supervised the interior decoration.
1925
Idaho Statesman Front Page - April17, 1925
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January 15: Bond issue passed to enable the construction of the southern portion of the Capital Boulevard. The approved approach plan was less elaborate than the one originally proposed by architects Carrere and Hastings. Herbert A. Clist, member of Carrere and Hastings firm, announced the pleasure he and his associates had planning this Spanish-type railroad station. The depot was characterized by beautiful native stone, quarried near what is now the Old Penitentiary. Other Union Pacific stations designed by Carrere and Hastings included Pocatello, 1909, and Grand Island, Nebraska, 1916.
April 16: Thousands turned out to see the first transcontinental (#26) steam into the new station and greet Union Pacific President Carl R. Gray. Speeches were given at the depot and a parade wound through the city.
1927
Clock tower chimes were given by friends in memory of Edward Henry Harriman. The bells were supplied by the Meneely Bell Company of New York, and Seth Thomas Company supplied the clock and striking device. The chime rang every quarter hour.
August 21: Howard Platt Gardens were dedicated. The park at the approach to the depot was designed by Ricardo Espino, a noted Spanish landscape architect form Los Angeles. L.W. Althoff was in charge of all construction work.
The Boise Depot - 1931
1931
September 15: Capital Boulevard Memorial Bridge opened with ceremony. The bridge opened Capitol Boulevard and formed an approach to the Capitol and depot. Dedicated to the pioneers of the Old Oregon Train, the handsome concrete bridge was erected by Morrison Knudsen Company.
1934
April 1: A three-car example of Union Pacifics new Streamliner train visited Boise. It was being groomed for regular service between Chicago and Portland. The complete seven-car train would carry 125 passengers and would consist of a power car, combination mail and baggage coach, a coach buffet and three sleepers. An estimated 15,000 spectators went through the three-car example train at the depot.
1937
Oregon Short Line was absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
1940
January 22: Union Pacific Spud Special (#3121) visited Boise depot to begin a tour to publicize the Idaho Potato.
1948
March 29: Freedom Train-Spirit of 1776 visited Boise, in conjunction with a rededication to American ideals. It had on board 120 historical exhibits for public viewing. Six passenger trains rolled into the Boise station each day, three each direction: the City of Portland, the Portland Rose and the Idahoan. The depots roof was replaced by Gem State Roof. Western Waterproofing Co. waterproofed the buildings exterior. The Front Street station was demolished.
1959
April 16: Thirty trees were removed from the depot gardens to enhance views. Shrubbery and flowerbeds were moved or replaced. O.C. Locklear was the gardener.
November 14: Union Pacific #2295, a Mikado type, was donated by Union Pacific to the City of Boise and was placed in Julia Davis Park. Big Mike was built by the American Locomotive Co. in 1920 and originally served to pull freight trains between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Its design features 62-inch drive wheels and a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. It was the last steam locomotive to operate between Pocatello and Boise. It was given to the Idaho State Historical Society in 1978.
1962
November 28: The Barkalow Brothers newsstand closed because of the decline in the number of rail passengers. Its company headquarters were in Omaha, Nebraska.
1966
August 6: The Boise Association of Model Railroaders and the Idaho Historical Auxiliary sponsored a one-day train excursion utilizing steam locomotive X8444. The event was repeated in 1968 and 1972.
1968
January 19: The future of passenger trains dimmed when the United States Post Office removed mail freight from the Portland Rose. The loss of the mail contract took the profit out of the run and Union Pacific sought to discontinue passenger service. Full airmail service began in 1969.
1969
May: The east baggage wing was remodeled and modernized into a suite of offices to replace Union Pacifics downtown offices. Windows and doorways were modified (architect-Martin). It is believed that portion of the baggage wing roof tiles was replaced at this time, and that a coating of exterior stucco was added.
1971
May 1: The last Portland Rose passenger train pulled out of the depot. Southern Idaho was removed from the map of passenger routes developed by the federal Railpax system.
1972
September: Union Pacific emblazoned the depot tower with the words, Union Pacific Railroad to squelch restaurant rumors and to let people know that Union Pacific remained the proud owner of the depot.
1974
August 7: The Union Pacific Mainline Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1976
November 4: Beaux Arts Societe Arts for Christmas, which had been held at the depot for the previous four years, bade farewell to the depot because of the pending arrival of Amtrak.
1977
February 15: Amtrak made repairs to the depot - patching plaster, painting, restroom improvements and air conditioner in ticket office.
June 5: Amtraks (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) Pioneer passenger train began service between Seattle and Salt Lake City.
1982
Boise Parks Department took over maintenance and management of the Platt Gardens.
1984
John Miller repaired and rebuilt hanging lamps that his father originally installed in the Platt Gardens in 1927.
1985
The Vista Avenue Railroad bridge, Vista Avenue, Federal Way and Capital Boulevard were widened and the traffic plan was altered, eliminating northbound traffic directly from the depot.
1987
Union Pacific Railroad announced plans to sell the branch line that connects Boise to the main line to Intermountain Gas Industries, but he sale did not occur.
1990
December 13: Morrison Knudsen Corporation purchased the depot from Union Pacific Railroad.
1992
Morrison Knudsen Corporation began restoration of the depot for Amtrak, Morrison Knudsen Rail Systems Group office, public visits, and charitable, non-profit and education uses.
1993
February 5: The restored Morrison Knudsen Depot opened with public ceremony, ribbon-cutting and restored chiming clock.
1995
August: City of Boise announced that the city and community funds would purchase the depot.
1996
January 24: Boise City took possession of the Depot.
1997
May 10: Amtraks last passenger train rolled out of Boise.
Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: No
Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes
If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?:
Weddings
What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Union Pacific
Station/Depot Web Site: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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