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 Punta Gorda Railroad Depot Posted by:  rogueblack
N 26° 55.781 W 082° 02.757
17R E 396157 N 2979076
Now a museum, this railroad station documents a time in history when industry helped Punta Gorda to flourish.
Waymark Code: WM4X44
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/08/2008
Views: 46
The marker tells the story of this Railroad Depot which was constructed after Col. Isaac Trabue convinced the Atlantic Coast Line to extend the railroad from Charlotte Harbor across the Peace River into Punta Gorda.
The marker reads:
PUNTA GORDA RAILROAD DEPOT
Plans to build the railroad depot in Punta Gorda began in 1928. Although the trains carried passengers, the main purpose was for shipping fish to northern markets. The Punta Gorda depot is the only remaining one of this style built by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Its design incorporated the Spanish Mission style features used by Atlantic Coast Line in six Florida depots. The original work was awarded to the R.W. Burrows Construction Company of Bartow. By 1971 the depot was closed to freight traffic and purchased by Fred C. Babcock, who donated the site to Old Punta Gorda, Inc., in 1996. In 1998 volunteers began to restore the building. The former "Colored" waiting room features pictures of area pioneers and local prominent African Americans. The former "White" waiting room includes other exhibits. The ticket office now includes railroad memorabilia, historic items from the local fishing industry and nostalgic items from World War II (1941-1945) troop arrivals to Charlotte County. In August 2004 the depot was hit by Hurricane Charlie [sic], but it has since been restored as a Punta Gorda landmark. The depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Florida Heritage Site
Sponsored by Old Punta Gorda, Inc.
DBA Punta Gorda Historical Society
and The Florida Department of State
Marker Number: F-608
Date: 2007
County: Charlotte
Marker Type: Plaque
Sponsored or placed by: Old Punta Gorda, Inc. DBA Punta Gorda Historical Society and The Florida Department of State
Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
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