Illinois Central Railroad Passenger Depot (Carbondale, Illinois)

The Illinois Central Railroad Passenger Depot is the former Illinois Central Railroad passenger station which served Carbondale, Illinois. Built in 1903, the station was the second Illinois Central passenger depot in Carbondale. Illinois Central service to Carbondale began in 1854; passenger service briefly operated out of the freight depot before a wooden passenger depot was built. The 1903 depot was constructed as part of a series of improvements built by the railroad in Carbondale; these included a roundhouse, office buildings, and a bandstand and park. Railway architect Francis T. Bacon designed the depot in a transitional style influenced by contemporary late 19th and early 20th century architecture. The depot allowed for travel in and out of Carbondale, providing a direct connection from the city to events such as the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. In addition, the depot brought mail and traveling entertainment into Carbondale. The depot served passenger trains until 1982; by this point, Amtrak controlled passenger service to Carbondale, and a new station was constructed to serve Amtrak trains. The building now houses the offices of Carbondale Main Street and Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.

The depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 9, 2002.