Calistoga in Napa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Calistoga Depot
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
1. Calistoga Depot Marker
Inscription.
Calistoga Depot. . Built by Sam Brannan for the Napa Valley Railroad in 1868 one year before the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Second oldest remaining railroad station in California. Northern terminus of the Napa Valley Railroad and its successors the Napa Valley Branches of the Central Pacific Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad., Restored in 1978 by Calistoga Depot Association,
Dedicated March 17, 1979 , Sam Brannan Chapter No.1004 , E Clampus Vitus.
Built by Sam Brannan for the Napa Valley Railroad in 1868 one year before the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Second oldest remaining railroad station in California. Northern terminus of the Napa Valley Railroad and its successors the Napa Valley Branches of the Central Pacific Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Restored in 1978 by Calistoga Depot Association
Dedicated March 17, 1979
Sam Brannan Chapter No.1004
E Clampus Vitus
Erected 1978 by Sam Brannan Chapter No.1004, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 687.)
Location. 38° 34.792′ N, 122° 34.697′ W. Marker is in Calistoga, California, in Napa County. Marker is on Lincoln Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1458 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga CA 94515, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mount View Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Calistoga City Hall (about 500 feet away, measured
Regarding Calistoga Depot. This site is designated as California Registered Historical Landmark No. 687.
The facility now includes six restored railroad cars housing historical exhibits and retail shops.
This site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1977
This site was designated as California Registered Historic Landmark No.687 on July 31, 1959:
Landmark Statement of Significance:
The Napa Valley Railroad depot, now the Southern Pacific depot, was built in 1868. Its roundhouse across Lincoln Avenue is gone. On its first trip, this railroad brought people to Calistoga for the elaborate opening of Brannan's summer resort in October 1868.
Additional commentary.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
2. Calistoga Depot Marker
1. Additional Information Regarding the Marker Dedication Harry Downham was Noble Grand Humbug when this plaque was dedicated. Plaque wording by Edward D. Hawkins.
— Submitted April 15, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
3. State Historical Landmark No.687
Sign mounted on building under the marker
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
4. Calistoga Depot
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
5. Calistoga Depot
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
6. Central Pacific Coach 12
Railroad car on display at the depot - The Calistoga Wine Shop
This passenger coach was built in 1866 for the just-organized Central Pacific Railroad by the Harlan & Hollisworth Company of Wilmington, Delaware and shipped around Cape Horn by steamer to Sacramento. The car was set on the Central Pacific’s rails in Sacramento where it assisted in construction of the railroad eastward until it met the westward building Union Pacific Railroad at the historic Golden Spike Ceremony in Promotory, Utah on May 10, 1869. The great Transcontinental Railroad was completed causing accelerated western expansion of America and the settlement of the west.
Coach 12 was retired from active passenger service in 1905 after more than a million miles of travel and placed in railroad maintenance service. In 1926 it was permantly retired and placed without its wheels in the Stockton Railroad Yard as an employee storage building. It was obtained just prior to its planned demise by Calistoga Depot Association in 1977 and was brought to Calistoga where it was restored to its 1880’s state in 1978 – its 112th year. From sign mounted on front of rail car.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
7. Central Pacific Coach 12
Close-Up of Photo Placed on Front of Rail Car
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
8. Rail Cars Now Home to Retail Shops
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
9. North Side of Depot and Rail Cars on Display
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009
10. Calistoga Depot Marker
The Weekly Calistogan
Calistoga’s Historic Newspaper
Since 1877
(Building on the grounds of the Calistoga Depot.)
Photographed By Loren Wilson, April 11, 2008
11. Calistoga Depot
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,660 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on December 12, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 3, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 11. submitted on April 15, 2012, by Loren Wilson of Sebastopol, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.