In 2011 the City of Keokuk, Iowa, acquired the Keokuk Union Depot from Pioneer Railcorp for the purpose of historic preservation and community use, and leased the associated real estate for 99 years. Erected in 1891, the building was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Burnham and Root. It is notable as one of John Root's last designs for public buildings in his distinctive Romanesque Revival style. Thereafter, with Root's death in 1891, architectural design in North America took a different turn.

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

Architectural features of the Depot include Root's characteristic use of earth tones, arched windows and high-pitched roofline. The interior features an oak-paneled waiting room and octagonal ticket booth; the "cathedral ceiling" and other woodwork in the waiting room were restored in 1991 by then-owner Keokuk Junction Railway. For the history of the Keokuk Union Depot visit our History page.

In 2011 an intern from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago developed an architectural study that resulted in the Depot's being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. (The Register is maintained by the National Park Service.) Restoric LLC, a Chicago firm specializing in the restoration of historic structures, completed a thorough architectural study in 2012 and produced a 180-page Historic Structure Report.

This bronze plaque records the Depot's listing on the National
Register of Historic Places. Photo by Richard Leonard

The plans drawn up from the Historic Structure Report have formed the basis for returning the Depot as closely as possible to its 1891 appearance, including replacing the shingled roof with clay tiles and rebuilding the central peaked tower, which was leveled off around 1950. The goal is to restore the building while adapting it to serve the community in a manner consistent with both historic preservation standards and contemporary requirements for public use.

The Depot in March 2014, before roof restoration was begun,
as seen from the Mississippi River bridge. Photo by John Miller

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 Patriot Rail system). The site is a block down-river from the US-136 highway bridge between Hamilton, Illinois and Keokuk.

The Depot provides a venue for a range of local events, both public and private, as is evident from the schedule on the Rental and Events page. The Keokuk Union Depot Commission, appointed by the Mayor, administers the operation and restoration of the Depot. No municipal tax funds are to be used for Depot projects. 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.