Preservation Activity Depot History Passenger Service to Keokuk Depot Foundation
Depot on Facebook Depot in Railway Preservation News City of Keokuk

Recent and Upcoming Events for the Depot

  • Saturday, January 19, 2013, 8:00–11:00 p.m. — Ben Cordes, Traditional Blues Guitarist
    Co-sponspored with Rollin' on the River
  • Friday, February 8, 2013, 8:00 p.m. — "Switchback," American Roots Music Blended with Celtic Soul
    Co-sponsored with Keokuk Cultural and Entertainment District
  • Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 4:30 p.m. — Keokuk Union Depot Commission, at the Depot
  • Thursday, June 20, 2013, 4:30 p.m. — Keokuk Union Depot Foundation, at the Depot
  • June 27-30, 2013 — 100th Anniversary of the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam and Power Plant. Depot open to visitors during the event; other special activities in preparation.

Do you have a memory of the Keokuk Union Depot, or an old photo? Email it to the Depot Commission.

Preserving the Historic Keokuk Union Depot

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

  • To volunteer to help with preservation activities, email the Depot Commission.
  • To donate funds to the preservation effort, visit the Depot Foundation page.
  • Or write to Keokuk Union Depot, P.O. Box 463, Keokuk, IA 52632.

Depot open house, April 2011
Tour group at Depot open house, April 2011. Photo by Richard Leonard

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 viewed from Bridge
The Depot viewed from the Mississippi River bridge,
showing rail trackage. Photo by Richard Leonard

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.

Depot mug
This handy souvenir mug and sporty cap are each available for $10.00.
Proceeds go toward the rehabilitation effort. For information on how
to obtain the mug or cap, visit the Depot Foundation page.

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.

Depot waiting room
The Depot waiting room in August 2012. Photo by Richard Leonard

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.

Depot Commission Meeting
The Keokuk Union Depot Commission meeting at
the Depot, May 2012. Photo by Richard Leonard

Keokuk Union Depot Commission

Debra Marion, President
Stephen Celania, Vice-President
Thomas Seabold, Secretary
James Kisor, Treasurer

Charles Abell
Douglas Clippert
Megan Spees

If volunteers are not present when you visit the Depot, phone one of these numbers to arrange a tour:

  319-795-4887 319-520-8830 319-795-0541 217-440-6615  

Postcard View of Keokuk Union Depot from South
This old postcard view depicts the Depot from the south (downriver) side. Image from Rob Adams.

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