National Register Listing

Gulf, Colorado and Sante Fe Railroad Passenger Station

1601 Jones St., Fort Worth, TX
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad Passenger Depot reflects both the growth of a prosperous city and the importance of the railroads which serve it. Originally, the G.C.& Santa Fe was a small, privately-owned railroad. However, its acquisition by the Atchison system assured that the Santa Fe would be one of the great railroads of the nation. The acquisition also assured the growth of Fort Worth. Originally, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad was not connected with the Santa Fe system. It began when Galveston citizens John Sealy and Walter Gresham decided to counter Houston's control of upstate trade. The name of the line was descriptive of the territory they expected to reach and serve. Galveston itself invested $500,000 in bonds to aid the railroad, and it was incorporated May 23, 1873. The line went from Galveston to Santa Fe by way of Caldwell, Cameron, Belton, Eastland, the Canadian River, and the Panhandle. In 1881 the line reached Fort Worth. In 1886 control passed to the Santa Fe system and during the next two years the Fort Worth branch was built to a connection with the Santa Fe system on the Canadian River in Oklahoma. From 1886 on, the Fort Worth branch was known as the main line. Indeed, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad is the principle Texas branch of the great Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe system, which owns more than 9000 miles of railway from Chicago to San Francisco, Galveston, and the Gulf Coast. Purchase of the G.C. & Santa Fe was of tremendous importance to the Santa Fe, for the Texas road and its important feeders served a well-settled, prosperous region which produced large local revenues. In addition, the coming of the G.C. & Santa Fe encouraged the growth of Fort Worth, and assured its ability to compete with nearby Dallas. Citizens of Fort Worth outbid Dallas for the road by giving a right of way through Tarrant County and an $85,000 cash bonus. Then, in 1899, the city hired contractors David Smith and John Bardon to build a new Santa Fe Depot. The Santa Fe Depot represents a good Beaux Arts design of the turn of the century, with a number of stylistic details combined in the typical eclectic composition of the Beaux Arts school. Its unique feature, one that provides a lively relief for the downtown area, is the colorful horizontal banding of the ground level. Construction of the station was an occasion for great civic celebration, for the building was considered a monument to transportation progress in the Southwest. It had the latest depot architectural designs of the period incorporated into the structure; it represented the prosperity both Fort Worth and the Santa Fe Railroad hoped to achieve in the Southwest. Among the many famous persons who used the depot was the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who made several trips to Fort Worth. The Santa Fe Ranger train pulled into the depot November 4, 1947, with the General and Mrs. Eisenhower and aide, Major Robert L. Scholz, aboard. The much-decorated Army personality, who was a professed admirer of the cowboy-humorist Will Rogers, was met by the late Amon Carter, Sr. The next day, Ike, with Carter and the late Mayor Edgar Deen, unveiled the life-like bronze statue of Rogers astride his horse in front of the will Rogers Memorial Auditorium and Coliseum. Fort Worth also was visited by the late Franklin D. Roosevelt who made five trips there while serving as President. Two of his trips brought him through the Santa Fe Depot. Improvements were made to the G.C. & Santa Fe Station in 193 and a new freight building was constructed. The total cost of the venture during that depression year was $1,500,000. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970.
Local significance of the building:
Transportation; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

transportation architecture railroads
Audiobooks about the history of Texas.
The state of Texas was once an independent country known as the Republic of Texas. It gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and was a separate nation until it was annexed by the United States in 1845.
Texas random facts
Tarrant County, Texas, has a significant place in the history of the Lone Star State. The area was initially inhabited by indigenous tribes before European exploration and settlement. In the mid-19th century, the region became part of the Republic of Texas after gaining independence from Mexico.

Tarrant County was established in 1849 and named after Edward H. Tarrant, a military leader during the Texas Revolution. The county experienced significant growth and development throughout the 19th century, fueled by factors such as the expansion of railroads, cattle ranching, and the discovery of oil.

During the 20th century, Tarrant County continued to flourish and adapt to changing times. It became an important hub for transportation, commerce, and industry. The county's largest city, Fort Worth, emerged as a major center for cattle trading and eventually diversified into a vibrant economic and cultural hub.

Today, Tarrant County is one of the most populous counties in Texas, encompassing Fort Worth and several other cities and communities. It boasts a diverse economy, encompassing sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. Tarrant County is also home to renowned educational institutions, cultural attractions, and recreational opportunities, making it a dynamic and thriving region within the state.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Tarrant County, Texas.

  • Pre-19th Century: The area was inhabited by indigenous tribes, including the Wichita and Comanche, before European settlement.

  • 1849: Tarrant County was officially established and named after Edward H. Tarrant, a military leader in the Republic of Texas.

  • 1850s: Fort Worth, the county seat, began as a military outpost on the Trinity River, providing protection for settlers and serving as a stop on the Chisholm Trail cattle drive route.

  • Late 19th Century: The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s spurred economic growth in Fort Worth and the county. The city became a center for the cattle industry, agriculture, and trade.

  • 20th Century: Tarrant County experienced significant urbanization and diversification. Fort Worth became a major hub for the oil and gas industry, aviation, and defense with the establishment of military bases.

  • Civil Rights Era: Tarrant County, like many regions in the United States, faced challenges and changes during the civil rights movement, with efforts to achieve racial equality and social progress.

  • Modern Times: Tarrant County continues to thrive as a major economic and cultural center in Texas. It is home to a diverse population and industries such as healthcare, finance, technology, and education.