Built 1901 (1901) Opened 1901 Architect WASA Studio | NRHP Reference # 85000644 Added to NRHP 28 March 1985 | |
 | ||
Location Railroad and Higgins Avenue
Missoula, Montana Architectural style Renaissance Revival architecture Similar Northern Pacific Depot, Atlantic Hotel, Northern Pacific Depot Ra, Florence Hotel, St Francis Xavier Church | ||
The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot in Missoula, Montana, was built by the Northern Pacific Railway in 1901. The current structure is the third depot built in Missoula by the Northern Pacific, which reached Missoula in 1883.
History
The coming of the Northern Pacific Railway to Missoula ensured the town's economic prosperity as a major transportation hub in Western Montana. The first depot in Missoula was constructed in 1883 and was located approximately 800 feet (240 m) west of the current structure. This depot was planned to be replaced in 1896, but the replacement depot was destroyed by arson before it was completed. The current depot, which was completed in 1901, was designed by noted architects Reed and Stem of St. Paul, Minnesota, in a simplified Renaissance Revival style of architecture. Reed and Stem designed over 100 railroad depots, including the Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
The depot is constructed in brick, with a terra cotta tile roof. It features a main three-story structure flanked by one story wings on each side. The main structure is divided by brick columns into six bays, with the outer four columns on each side sporting the Northern Pacific black and red yin-yang logo. The wings are likewise divided into four bays. The main structure has a hipped roof with terra cotta tiles, while the wings feature flat roofs.
Passenger trains of the Northern Pacific stopped at the depot through 1971, when passenger service in the United States was taken over by Amtrak. Amtrak continued to provide service to Missoula with the North Coast Hiawatha until 1979.
The depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1985, and is considered to be the most prominent structure symbolizing the importance of the railroad in developing and transforming Missoula's economy.
Near the depot is the preserved Northern Pacific #1356 4-6-0 steam locomotive.