Hundreds of “trainiacs” visited the Laramie Railroad Depot last weekend, according to depot board member Charles Van Heule. Volunteers and visitors alike were pleased to participate in the 100th anniversary of the building.
Sunday, as children interacted with a Lego train in the front room and numerous other educational attractions, Van Heule recounted the building’s history. The original Union Pacific Depot and Hotel, he said, stood from the late 1860s until it was destroyed by a fire in 1917. The replacement depot, standing today, opened Oct. 6, 1924. “Since it is 2024,” he said, “we figured we had to have a party for the hundred years, because it’s very important.”
When passenger trains passed through, they supplemented Laramie’s economy, bringing students to the university and employees to local businesses. In addition, mail was distributed by rail for some time. “Before UPS and FedEx got going,” Van Heule said, “the railroad handled parcels.” World War 2 played a role as well. “You would see 40 or 45 trains a day moving troops and moving transport. They would stop, they would go [into town], they would get their snacks, they would get their smokes and they would go off to war.”
Instead of today’s automobiles and airlines, Van Heule said, railroads like Laramie’s provided a fundamental means for transportation. “Railroads were a way to move people in bulk across the country…”
Van Heule said the depot served UP trains until 1971 when it became affiliated with Amtrak. This arrangement lasted until the 1990s. After it was abandoned by Amtrak, the depot nearly faced its demise, said Van Heule. “The building was scheduled to be turned into a parking lot.” Before the demolition started however, local volunteers bought the building and founded the Laramie Depot Association. “They saved the building and turned it into a rental hall, community center and museum.”
Today, Van Heule said, the depot is no longer at risk of being leveled, and it earns some revenue through community rentals. It also plays a role in the local community, hosting Laramie Brewfest, train lighting events, aiding parades and supporting other events alongside Downtown Laramie. “There are so many trainiacs in the world who love seeing the history of the museum, the artifacts we’ve preserved and the building itself. The depot is just part of downtown.” Since it rescued the building, the Laramie Depot Association has functioned as a nonprofit, returning all earnings to the preservation of the building.
