Whitefish Depot
Historical Walking Tour of Whitefish, Montana
The railroads decision to construct a 36-by-150-foot building, to replace a much smaller depot at the north end of Central Avenue, occasioned a banner headline in the Whitefish Pilot in August, 1927. The three-story structure – one story for the depot and two for offices – would cost about $60,000. Butler Construction Co. of Seattle won the contract. In the late 1980s, Whitefish almost lost its famous depot when the railroad, by then the Burlington Northern, decided to scrap it. But the Stumptown Historical Society, a group formed by local folks to preserve the towns history, refused to let it go. The Society bought the building for $1 and then raised $800,000 to renovate it, much of the work done by Whitefish volunteers. The Society uses rental fees from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Amtrak and a few office tenants to maintain the depot. In 2002, the Society had the building repainted in historically correct colors, a project that cost three-fourth as much as the entire 1927 construction
this page online
More than 50,000 people pass through the depot each year.
[Photo caption:] Two views, taken in 1927, showing the original depot north of the new building under construction.
Sponsored by the Stumptown Historical Society and the Whitefish Community Foundation.
Erected by Stumptown Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.
Location. 48° 24.818′ N, 114° 20.135′ W. Marker is in Whitefish, Montana, in Flathead County. It is at the intersection of Depot Street and Spokane Street on Depot Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 590 Depot Street, Whitefish MT 59937, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana and in Glacier Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Great Northern Railway Passenger and Freight Depot and Division Office (a few steps from this marker); The Bruck (within shouting distance of this marker); Cadillac Hotel (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Casey's Bar (approx. 0.2 miles away); Palace Bar (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hori Cafe Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pastime Pool Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Robinson Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Whitefish.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,036 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
