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Recent and Upcoming Events for the Depot
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Do you have a memory of the Keokuk Union Depot, or an old photo? Email it to the Depot Commission. |
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Preserving the Historic Keokuk Union Depot |
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In 2011 the City of Keokuk, Iowa, leased the Keokuk Union Depot for 99 years from Pioneer Railcorp for the purpose of historic preservation and community use. Erected in 1891, the building was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Burnham and Root. It is notable as one of Root's last designs for public buildings in his distinctive Romanesque Revival style, with its characteristic use of earth tones. Thereafter, with Root's death in 1891, architectural design in North America took a different turn. How You Can Help
Architectural features of the Depot include the oak-paneled waiting room, octagonal ticket booth, and Romanesque arched windows and doorways. For the history of the Keokuk Union Depot, visit our History page.
The Depot is located at Johnson and South Water Streets, between the Mississippi River and the limestone bluff along its west bank, and fronts on rail trackage used by BNSF Railway and the Keokuk Junction Railway (part of the Pioneer Railcorp system). The site is a block down-river from the US-136 highway bridge between Hamilton, Illinois and Keokuk.
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Locate the Depot on the map. The City of Keokuk established the Union Depot Commission to oversee the project of preservation and conversion to end use, for which a number of possibilities are under consideration. An intern from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago developed an architectural study, eventuating in the Depot's being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Register is maintained by the National Park Service. A firm specializing in the restoration of historic structures completed a thorough architectural study in 2012. The plans drawn up from this study will serve as a basis for returning the Depot as close as possible to its 1891 appearance, including replacing the current shingled roof with tiles.
The Keokuk Union Depot Commission administers the preservation project as part of Keokuk's larger Riverfront Development Master Plan. However, no municipal tax funds are to be used for Depot rehabilitation. A separate Keokuk Union Depot Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization, was established in 2012 to raise the necessary funds from grants and private sources. Although some of the rehabilitation work thus far has been contracted, particularly roof and masonry repairs, most work has been done by volunteers. For updates on the restoration effort, visit our Preservation Activity page.
Keokuk Union Depot Commission
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If volunteers are not present when you visit the Depot, phone one of these numbers to arrange a tour:
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June 27-30, 2013 — 100th Anniversary of the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam and Power Plant. Depot open to visitors during the event. Blue Bunny Ice Cream for sale, $1.50. Kiddie Train Rides 11:00-3:00 on Friday and Sunday, $2.00 (not available Saturday).
