The Transportation History Center Of Johnson County.

**The Chicago, Rock Island Island & Pacific Railroad Depot – 115 Wright Street – Iowa City.**

**This iconic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1982, and is also designated and protected as a Historic Landmark in Iowa City.**

***Now, you can join our efforts in making this property the home of The Transportation History Center of Johnson County, Iowa.***

Today, when you combine the number of people who use the Eastern Iowa Airport (1 million per year) with the number of people who use the newly-designed Interstate 80 & I-380 intersection (over 120,000 vehicles daily), it’s hard to imagine that, for a good portion of Iowa City and Johnson County’s history (114 of our 185+ years), the hub for most transportation in and out of our region was…

Over our 114 years (1856-1970) of railroad passenger service in and out of Johnson County, Iowa City had two depots. The first (pictured above) was built for the 1856 arrival of the M&M Railroad’s first steam locomotive and was located at the south end of South Johnson Street – four blocks to the east of the present Rock Island station. This small facility faithfully served Iowa Citians between 1856 and 1898. At that time, a new, state-of-the-art Rock Island Railroad depot (pictured below) was built at 115 Wright Street – costing $25,000 and using a design similar in plans to other larger stations in Ottawa, IL and Council Bluffs, IA. You can read more details here.

Beginning on January 3, 1856 – with the arrival of the Mississippi & Missouri (M&M) Railroad‘s first passenger train into Iowa City, pulled by the steam locomotive – The Oskaloosa, and enduring over the next 114 years, when, on May 31, 1970, the last Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Railroad passenger train – The Rock Island Rocket – left the station, Iowa City’s Railroad Depot was the primary transportation destination for most of the people who came in and out of our fair community.

Ten years later, on March 31, 1980, another Iowa City tradition came to an end when the last Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Railroad freight train rolled through town. Nine days later, Iowa City historian Irving Weber published his classic article: Requiem for the Rock Island Line in Iowa City. Click here to re-visit Weber’s love of Iowa City’s long-standing Rock Island Railroad heritage.

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. Enjoy!

***September 29, 1898 – Iowa City’s new state-of-the-art Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Railroad Depot is dedicated.*** *Read more here.*

Because of this rich 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.

As we see it, there are six main themes to be explored when one wants to learn more about the History of Transportation in Johnson County, Iowa.

The Ancient Trails & Waterways Era
The Steamboat Era
The Stagecoach Era
The Railroad Era
The Automobile Era
The Airplane Era.

**The Six Eras Of Transportation In Johnson County.** Without a doubt, the subject of *The Transportation History of Johnson County* is a huge topic – one that could take hours and hours to unpack. Here, on this page, we simply give you a brief overview – breaking our 185+ year Johnson County transportation history into six major themes. We then offer you a few facts and figures about each era, followed by some page links for more study. Come take the journey!

Plans are still coming together on all this unique building offers us, but of course, being located in the iconic CRI&P Railroad Depot, we will certainly feature a large amount of attention toward those 114 years of passenger rail service in and out of Johnson County! All aboard!

Want an example of what can be done? Check out the restored Rock Island Railroad Depot in West Liberty…

The Rock Island Depot at West Liberty was built in 1897 using Van Meter buff brick after fire destroyed the old frame depot. Measuring 100 x 20 feet, the central portion extended wider on the east and west sides. In addition to the ticket and telegraph office, there were two waiting rooms, an express room and a baggage room. After passenger service was discontinued in 1970, the depot fell into disrepair. The West Liberty Heritage Foundation was incorporated and granted 501c3 status in 1999. After acquiring the depot and RR maintenance yard, plans for restoration began to take shape. A grant from IDOT along with local gifts enabled the project to begin in 2000. Dedication of the restored depot was held in August, 2001. Artifacts and memorabilia pertaining to the railroad and West Liberty are on display. Buildings have been added to the former railroad yard which emphasize our educational and agricultural heritage. Effective August 9, 2022 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. We welcome your visit. Click here to visit our website!

This process of, first – securing the property (it is under private ownership at this time), second – re-storing & re-purposing the building, and third – developing the entire property into a historical center will take lots of time, energy, and, of course, resources. And that’s where you come in.

The .433 acre (18,880 sq. ft) property is located on Wright Street in Iowa City – one city-block-long piece of land stretching from Clinton Street (on the west) to Dubuque Street (on the east). It’s, literally, a short 10-minute walk to downtown Iowa City (9 blocks from Old Capitol) and easily accessed from any part of the city.

The depot itself – built in 1898 – is a 4,120 sq. ft. brick building and includes six street addresses (see below) 109-119 Wright Street.

The estimated cost of our entire project is yet to be determined, but know that we are looking right now for those who would love to join in our efforts in making this exciting dream blossom into a Johnson County reality – adding the CRI&P Depot to our other historic buildings that are currently under supervision of the Johnson County Historical Society…