After 40 years in operation, Northern Pacific's "Queen Anne" style passenger depot built in the Fall of 1882, the building started to show its age. After a new depot was built in Bismarck, local business leaders lobbied the NP to replace Mandan's depot.
A major fire in June 1920, caused by defective electrical wiring, destroyed the entire wood second story of the building including the offices of Western Union Telegraph, yardmaster, roadmaster and trainmaster. Temporary offices were set up in extra caboose cars parked on rail sidings.
Since the Railroad was loosing money at the time, it decided just to rebuild the second floor with a very plain design. After receiving a new coat of paint, the line would operate this depot until 1929.
In 1928, Chief Engineer Howard Stevens made a bold move and proposed replacing the existing lunchroom and depot with a series of 3 buildings based on a brick colonial design. It was unlike any existing NP depot in the country.
Despite also being presented with a more traditional NP depot design, the Board of Directors approved the new design.
Streetside View 1947 from photo by Leo LaLonde
For a bid price of $61,342 ($775,000 in 2010 dollars), the Steen Company of Grand Forks built the current depot. It was constructed just north of the old one. After the dedication in February 1930, the old depot and lunchroom were demolished and new tracks and a platform were built in its place.
Original Layout of Depot from 1931 NP Sketch - Top of Diagram is "Streetside" i.e. North
The building is one story high built of red brick and is 34 feet wide and 156 feet long, including a 22-foot covered platform at the west end. The buidling includes a general waiting room 32 ft x 30 ft, a women's rest room 13 ft x 26 ft, a smoking room 11 ft x 17 ft, a baggage room, 22 ft x 32 ft, an express room 32 ft x 30 ft; toilets, etc. No basement was necessary as the steam for heat was initially furnaished from the nearby engine terminal power plant and subsequently by a steam boiler installed in the basement of the beanery.
The colonial design is brought out by columned porticos at each main entrance. The effect is enhanced by the open balustrade that surmounts each portico and in the depot by the arched transoms of the tow main entrances of the flanking windows. An added feature of the depot is a cupola in the colonial design accented by and encircling balustrade. The arched windows and broad fireplace chimney at one end of the lunchroom complete the effect.
Trackside View of Mandan's Railroad Depot and Beanery 1947 from photo by Leo LaLonde
Only the depot and beanery were built. The railway's management opted to move the offices destined for the third building to open space in an existing freight house building south of Main Street (which houses the Morton-Mandan Library today).
Trackside View of Depot August 1969
After the final passenger train service was terminated in 1979, buildings were turned over to the City of Mandan. In 1992, both the depot and beanery were remodeled and subsequently leased to area businesses. The depot is currently occupied by Five Nations Galley & Gift and the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation.
The former lunchroom/beanery building was remodeled and was initially leased as office space.
Since July 2008, the building has been occupied by its current tenants who include the Mandan Progress Organization, the Mandan Art Association and the Mandan Historical Society.
The MHSoc's museum and office is located at 411 W Main St, Mandan, ND 58554 Contact us at info@mandanhistory.org or leave message at (701) 751-2983
