We Are Looking For Your Iowa City Rock Island Depot Stories…

The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Railroad Depot – 115 Wright Street in Iowa City – opened on September 29, 1898, and the last Rock Island passenger train came through town on May 31, 1970. Over those 72 years, thousands and thousands of people traveled in and out of Johnson County by walking through the double doors of this small, quaint building located just seven blocks south of Old Capitol. From United States Presidents to University faculty and students, to famous college football stars like Nile Kinnick and Red Grange to brave U.S. soldiers heading off to WWI and WWII, this depot served our city and county well. Now, it’s time to refresh and restore this proud old lady, making her into an iconic historical center for future generations.
Over the last few years, whenever we’ve posted blogs and pictures of the Iowa City Rock Island Depot on Facebook or on our website, we’ve always received a huge number of responses, many of which include personal memories and special remembrances. Now, as we prepare to put together a fund-raising campaign to secure, restore & re-open the depot, we need your personal stories to help make our case…

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Thank you for your response. ✨

This form (above) can capture your 200-word story. If that is not quite long enough for your “Iowa City Rock Island Depot” story – send us a separate email @ mjbhawkeye@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

We’ve already started capturing stories about Iowa City’s Rock Island Depot. We’ll be adding more here as we gather additional stories!

Iowa City’s Railroad Depot – Grand Central Station. In preparation for the coming of the railroad, the good people of Iowa City built a small depot at the south end of Johnson Street. While it faithfully served the city for 40+ years (1856-1898), it was replaced by a state-of-the-art facility that still stands today. Without a doubt, over 70+ years (1898-1970), this depot became Iowa City’s Grand Central Station.
The U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School in Iowa City. Read the story and view the fascinating “color” home movie – Iowa City 1943. It gives us a brief look at two young men who graduated from the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School in July 1943 and traveled here to Iowa City via the Rock Island Depot.
Two Iowa City Presidential Whistlestops – 1948 & 1952. The Presidential races of 1948 and 1952 brought the campaigns of President Harry S. Truman (1948) and General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1952) right to the front door of Iowa City. Read these first-hand accounts of two unforgettable Whistlestops that drew huge crowds to the CRI&P Railroad Depot on Wright Street.
The Rock Island line was a mighty fine line. Here is a diesel locomotive in Iowa City in the 1960’s. The last two Rock Island passenger trains came through town on May 31, 1970. Read more details here.
This 6-minute video is classic-Irving Weber and offers us his overview on the importance of the Iowa City Rock Island Railroad Depot. Much thanks to the Iowa City Public Library. Read more about Irving Weber’s love of the Rock Island Railroad here.
The Transportation History Center Of Johnson County. Because of our rich 185+ year transportation history, we here, at Our Iowa Heritage are working alongside The Johnson County Historical Society (JCHS), The City of Iowa City, The Friends of Historical Preservation (FHP), and other interested parties to secure the CRI&P Railroad Depot located at 115 Wright Street in Iowa City, re-storing and re-purposing this iconic treasure into a historical center where many – both young and old – can come and re-visit our rich Johnson County transportation heritage. Come join in our efforts! Find out more here!

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