Depot History

The Depot is a rare example of Victorian architecture and an integral point of historical interest for the community.  It is still in its original condition unchanged by remodeling.  It has a wood frame construction, with exterior walls being of board and bat treatments.  The bay ticket window gives dimension to the east façade, and has an extended gable above. The overhanging roof, supported by large brackets, is a hallmark of ‘railroad style’.  The building has three rooms:  baggage room, ticket office and waiting room.  There is electricity but no water.  It was designated and historic landmark in 1969.

The original building was built in 1888 and was owned by the Santa Fe Railroad.  It was located just east of the railroad tracks and north of Littleton Blvd, across City Ditch from the old courthouse.  It faced the older Rio Grande depot made of stone, which saw down the hill a few yards to the west.  That building is currently being used as part of the Littleton Light Rail Station.

In 1965 the Santa Fe planned to tear down their 1888 depot, but Edwin A. Bemis, publisher emeritus of the Littleton newspaper, and executive vice-president of the Littleton Area Historical Society, arranged to have the railroad give the building to the City of Littleton.  First the building was moved one block southwest to Rio Grande Park (Bega Park).  Then in 1973, South Suburban Park and Recreation District moved the Depot to the present site.  Littleton National Band underwrote the expense of the move, but no money was given for renovation and restoration.

On August 6, 1974, the Denver Dry goods (Southglenn) raised $9,900 by sponsoring a gala cocktail buffet and auction to benefit restoration of the Depot as a community center. Next, the Littleton Friends of the Library/Museum and the Littleton Fine Arts Guild applied to the Colorado Centennial-Bicentennial Committee for $10,000 to match local funds for restoring the Depot and maintaining its authenticity.  The late Bob McQuarie  (Littleton Museum Director), local women from The Denver executive board and the Southglenn advisory board, Guild members and their families and friends, all contributed greatly in saving the Depot.  Hours of scrubbing, painting and ‘sprucing up’ were donated by these people, with the original purpose of preserving the building for a community center which opened on June 19, 1977, with much fanfare and celebration!

In 1978, Joan Peckman, a Guild member, inspired her mother, Mrs. Lawrence C. Phipps Jr., to donate $4000 to the Littleton Fine Arts Guild, to be used for purchasing a caboose for the Depot.  The caboose was purchased from James Keith in Nederland, Colorado.  It was built in 1898 and served the Colorado & Southern, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy.  It used to run with freight trains south of Littleton, as far as Pueblo.  Today the caboose houses the “Caboose Gallery” with the work of fine art train photographer, Samuel Howard.  Visitors enjoy the thrill of being in a real caboose too.

The Gallery’s charming ambience and successful operation by the Littleton Fine Arts Guild has contributed to further the Arts in the Littleton area and statewide.  Thanks to the determination and foresight of local leaders, the HISTORIC LITTLETON DEPOT has been preserved as an historic landmark as THE DEPOT ART GALLERY.