Historic Fourth Avenue in Tucson in Pima County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Southern Pacific Railroad
[Spanish marker]
Erected by Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission and Arizona Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars . In addition, it is included in the Arizona, The Presidio Trail, and the Southern Pacific Railroad series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1878.
Location. 32° 13.381′ N, 110° 58.016′ W. Marker is in Tucson, Arizona, in Pima County. It is in Historic Fourth Avenue. Marker is on East Toole Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 East Toole Avenue, Tucson AZ 85701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Toole Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker); Wyatt Earp Shot Frank Stilwell… (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hotel Congress (about 300 feet away); Congress Street (about 300 feet away); Locomotive 1673 / Locomotora 1673 (about 400 feet away); Historic Fourth Avenue Underpass (about 500 feet away); Fourth Avenue Underpass (about 500 feet away); Coronado Hotel (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tucson.
Regarding Southern Pacific Railroad. Some history...
In 1998, the City of Tucson purchased the former Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Toole Avenue downtown. Restoration of the main depot building and the three adjacent buildings to their 1941 architectural style was completed in 2004.
Prior to restoration, the City, in conjunction with a Citizen's Intermodal Task Force, created a Master Plan to guide their efforts. That plan called for devoting the former Records Building on the depot site to a transportation museum. The first of the three outlying buildings on the depot site, the Records building was built in three stages (1907, 1910, 1922), the latest stage completing the building as we see it today.
A management committee was formed in 2001 to complete the task of establishing the museum. The museum is now a division of Old Pueblo Trolley, Inc which was founded in 1983. By 2003, as well as completing a formal study, the museum was awarded a variety of grants and private donations that funded the museum exhibits. On March 20th, 2005, the 125th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Railroad in Tucson, the museum was dedicated with the help of Mayor Bob Walkup.
Regarding the Historic Railroad Depot.
Historic Railroad Depot is #20 on the Presidio Trail Walking Tour.
The description reads:
“Built in 1907, the depot was restored in 2004 to its 1942 appearance. In addition to a functioning passenger train lobby, it houses an Amtrak office, a rental car office, Maynard’s Market & Kitchen, and an excellent small museum highlighting transportation. Historic steam locomotive #1673 is located at trackside. A life-size sculpture of Wyatt Earp and “Doc” Holiday marks the 1882 incident ending with the death of Frank Stilwell near the first depot.”
Also see . . . Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. Website of the Museum. (Submitted on January 2, 2010.)
Additional keywords. Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,732 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on May 13, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 2, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.