Rock Island Lines Passenger Station (Rock Island, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Rock Island Lines Passenger Station is an historic building located in Rock Island, Illinois
, United States
. It ceased operating as a railway station in 1980. The building was designated a Rock Island landmark in 1987, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982. It is now a banquet facility called Abbey Station.
on February 22, 1854. It was the first time the railroad had reached the Mississippi River
. In order to expand further west, the river needed to be crossed. The first bridge across the Mississippi was built between Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa
, opening on April 21, 1856. Rock Island became a pivotal location for the movement of people, commodities and raw materials.
The former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Passenger Station was built in 1901 to serve as the third Rock Island passenger depot. The building was designed by Charles S. Frost of Frost & Granger of Chicago. He had designed over 200 depots in his career for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, Milwaukee Road, Great Northern Railroad as well as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. The depot was built by Rock Island contractor John Volk for $75,000. For many years the depot had as many as 32 arrivals and departures daily, and twenty-one ticket agents worked around the clock.
Changes in transportation habits led to the decline in railway travel. The last passenger train left the station on May 31, 1978. The depot itself was closed in April 1980. The building deteriorated until 1994 when the city of Rock Island bought the property from the Iowa Interstate Railroad
. In 1996 the city restored the exterior and replaced the clock tower. The deteriorated freight house, which was built of the same materials as the depot, was torn down in 1997. Its bricks and tiles were used in the depot renovations. The depot was sold in 1999 to Abbey Station LLC, which now operates a banquet facility in the building.
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It ceased operating as a railway station in 1980. The building was designated a Rock Island landmark in 1987, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982. It is now a banquet facility called Abbey Station.
History
In 1845 local civic leaders began planning the construction of the railroad to Rock Island. The railroad finally reached the city from ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on February 22, 1854. It was the first time the railroad had reached the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. In order to expand further west, the river needed to be crossed. The first bridge across the Mississippi was built between Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, opening on April 21, 1856. Rock Island became a pivotal location for the movement of people, commodities and raw materials.
The former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Passenger Station was built in 1901 to serve as the third Rock Island passenger depot. The building was designed by Charles S. Frost of Frost & Granger of Chicago. He had designed over 200 depots in his career for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, Milwaukee Road, Great Northern Railroad as well as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. The depot was built by Rock Island contractor John Volk for $75,000. For many years the depot had as many as 32 arrivals and departures daily, and twenty-one ticket agents worked around the clock.
Changes in transportation habits led to the decline in railway travel. The last passenger train left the station on May 31, 1978. The depot itself was closed in April 1980. The building deteriorated until 1994 when the city of Rock Island bought the property from the Iowa Interstate Railroad
Iowa Interstate Railroad
The Iowa Interstate Railroad is a Class II railroad operating in the central United States. The railroad is owned by Railroad Development Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-History:...
. In 1996 the city restored the exterior and replaced the clock tower. The deteriorated freight house, which was built of the same materials as the depot, was torn down in 1997. Its bricks and tiles were used in the depot renovations. The depot was sold in 1999 to Abbey Station LLC, which now operates a banquet facility in the building.