Home

Steamboat Springs — In 1906, big-name members of the Steamboat Springs community started an effort to bring a railroad to town. By January 1909, the first passenger train on the Moffat Road had come through town; six months later, the station was ready for full-time use.

During the next 60 years, the Depot transformed the way things functioned in Steamboat Springs, allowing a reasonable route for visitors - especially those with skis - to come through town, for out-of-county commerce to arrive, for mining to boom, and for culture and art to work its way into and out of Routt County.

In 1968, time caught up with the Denver and Rio Grand Western Railroad Co., and the Depot went defunct. It sat that way for three years, until a riled-up group of Routt County residents started calling for its restoration. By 1972, the Steamboat Springs Arts Council had formed; by 1973, the train Depot had been converted into the Depot Art Center through an effort led by arts advocate Eleanor Bliss.

This year, the Depot turns 100, and the Steamboat Springs Arts Council turns 37. The nonprofit group will celebrate its decades-old home with a non-juried art show opening July 3, titled "On Track: Celebrating 100 Years of the Depot," and with a to-be-announced series of events in late August. This timeline is made up of bits and pieces from the Tread of Pioneers Museum archives and Steamboat Pilot back issues, showing us how the Depot got on track, derailed and got back on:

1906: A group of Steamboat Springs residents begins meeting to bring a railroad to town.

1908: After an initial set of plans fell through, new plans for a passenger train in Steamboat are finished.

Dec. 19, 1908: First train arrives in Steamboat.

Jan. 6, 1909: First passenger train arrives in Steamboat.

July 1909: The Depot train station is ready for operation.

1913: The Moffat road reaches Craig, as far as it got on a projected path to Salt Lake City. During the next 50 years, the railroad brings business to the Yampa Valley with the livestock, coal and tourism industries.

1924: Eleanor Bliss visits the Depot, a building she will help preserve 50 years later.

1968: Regular passenger service to Steamboat Springs is discontinued, and the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Co. deed the Depot to the city of Steamboat Springs.

1971: A campaign to repurpose the Depot begins. The Yampa Valley Artists Guild, then 20 members strong, submits a usage proposal to the Steamboat Springs City Council. The group suggested using the abandoned station for an exhibit area, work space to hold art classes and lectures and for storage space.

Fall 1971: City Council accepts bids and proposals for the future of the building.

1972: The Steamboat Springs Council of the Arts and Humanities forms and leases the Depot from the city. The initial contract - which later was amended - allowed the group to rent the building for $1 a month until 2002.

1973: The Council of the Arts and Humanities celebrates its first anniversary and described its new home in an annual report: "In May 1972, shortly after its formation, the council leased the Depot from the Town of Steamboat Springs. It took on the responsibility of renovating and operating the building as a theater, auditorium, meeting place and art center for the community. To make this possible, local residents of all ages and interests have written letters, raised money, sold tickets, taught crafts, decorated for Christmas, moved pianos, scrubbed floors, and scraped and painted walls."

1976: Last cattle car leaves Steamboat.

1978: The council commissions a plan for restoration and conversation of the building from the University of Colorado at Denver. First-floor plans featured a lounge and reception area, box office, large multipurpose space and stage with a makeup area and dressing room. Studio space and theater storage were proposed for the basement, and a meeting room next to a caretaker's apartment was planned for the second story.

Dec. 1978: The Depot is named to the National Register of Historical Places.

1980: A city inspector condemns the Depot auditorium for being in violation of a number of fire and building codes. Estimated cost to bring the building up to date is $100,000. A "Save the Depot" campaign - complete with T-shirts and buttons - starts to drum up enough money to put the building back in business.

1981: City Council appropriates $105,000 for building renovations.

1993: The Depot is named a Routt County Historic Site.

2007: The Arts Council celebrates its 35th anniversary.

2009: The Depot celebrates 100 years of operation in Steamboat Springs.