National Register of Historic Places in Placer County

Colfax Freight Depot 26 February 2008
(Click Photos to Zoom)
National Register #98001605
Colfax Passenger Depot
99 Rail Road Avenue
Colfax
Built 1905

A plaque on the building reads:

Colfax Passenger Depot
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places
15 January 1999

Built in 1905 by Southern Pacific Railroad in what SPRR called the colonnade style. It is the only remaining depot of this type in Placer County. It was used as a passenger depot until 30 April 1971.

This structure replaced the original Central Pacific Depot, constructed in 1865. It included the Western Union Telegraph Office, Wells Fargo Express Office and a restaurant. It was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning, 26 September 1905.

The station was the terminus for the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad from 1876 to 1945. The NCNG hauled gold, lumber, fruit and passengers to the main line of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Begun in earnest in the late 1900's, the depot renovation project included temporarily moving the entire building so that a new cement foundation could be constructed. In 2005 the completed preservation and conversion includes a museum, visitor center and waiting room for Amtrak.

City of Colfax
Colfax Area Historical Society
United Auburn Indian Community

Dedicated Founder's Day
5 November 2005

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