Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

The Train Depot

— Alva Mural Society —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

1. The Train Depot Marker

Inscription. Alva’s Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway station, built in 1908, served as the town’s transportation hub until passenger service was terminated in 1983.

Mural painted by Robbie Pierce and Jack Koonce, 2003.

Erected 2003 by Alva Mural Society. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 36° 48.304′ N, 98° 39.806′ W. Marker is in Alva, Oklahoma, in Woods County. It is at the intersection of 4th Street and Flynn Street, on the left when traveling south on 4th Street. The marker and mural are located on the west facade of the building at this location. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 330 Flynn Street, Alva OK 73717, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana

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and Cherokee Outlet.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Statehood Day (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Morton Share (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of United States Land Office Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thunderbirds (about 500 feet away); Woods County Centennial Wall (about 600 feet away); World War I Memorial (about 600 feet away); 45th Infantry Div. (about 700 feet away); Bass Reeves (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alva.

Also see . . .
1. Santa Fe Depots that have been torn down (atsf.railfan.net).

Excerpt: The Santa Fe main line at Alva, OK was located on a high fill around the northern part of town. This brick depot was built on the fill north of the tracks in 1909. It originally had a decorative tower over the bay window and was similar in style to the depots at Ft. Madison, IA and Bartlesville, OK. Santa Fe vacated the Alva depot in the 1980's and offered it to the city, with the stipulation that the structure be moved. Moving a brick depot across
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

2. The Train Depot Marker
Looking east across 4th Street; the marker is mounted near the bottom right corner of the mural. Flynn Street is to the right.
two sets of tracks and down a fill would have been a tricky maneuver at best, and the railroad ended up razing the structure around 1993.

(Submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Alva, Oklahoma Santa Fe Depot (facebook).

Alva, Oklahoma was a stop on the Santa Fe Railway's "San Francisco Chief" route between the early 1950s and April 30, 1971. (Includes photo of depot after the tower was removed.)

(Submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Alva Train Station in Periscope film. This home movie from 1947 shows the Alva Train Station (around 10:00). (Submitted on July 17, 2025, by Bryan D Treser of Bellflower, California.)

The Train Depot Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

3. The Train Depot Mural

The mural was painted by Robbie Pierce and Jack Koonce in 2003.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 204 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 1, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.