Dade City Train Museum & Theater - Dade City, FL
N 28° 21.881 W 082° 11.067
17R E 383931 N 3138171
In 1994, the historic Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot was the first building in Pasco County to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is used as the Dade City Train Museum & Theater.
Waymark Code: WMB3RD
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 04/01/2011
Views: 4
"If you are a train buff, a history buff or just looking for a fun day trip, check out the new Train Depot Museum in historic downtown Dade City. Operated by the Dade City Trolley Tour, the museum features an elaborate model train display, a real working train signal and tons of memorabilia from the early days of the railroads in Florida. Be sure to catch the excellent short film on the history of railroads, "A Tale of Two Henrys," on the lives of Henry Flagler and Henry Plant. Kids will enjoy ringing a real locomotive bell from the Savannah Central Railroad and seeing the lifelike "travelers" and train depot personnel stationed throughout the site. The depot was built in 1912 and until recently was a stop on the Amtrak line.
Visitors can come directly to the museum, located at Meridian Avenue and the US 98 bypass, or take the downtown trolley, which stops at the museum. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children ages five to 12 and children four and under are free with paid adult admission. For tour information, visit the Trolley Tour website at www.dadecitytrolleytour.com."
-- Source
An historical marker on the old depot provides the following information:
"Built in 1912 to replace an earlier frame structure located about 1/4 mile north, this depot was the first site in Pasco County to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The adjacent track is on the site of the first rail line to reach Dade City in 1887. Two additional lines were built through Pasco County by 1890.
Railroads transformed this area by providing efficient market access for local products. Numerous small towns appeared along the rails and by 1920 there was daily commuter traffic to Tampa and other communities.
Typical of railway architecture of the period, the depot survived without major alteration. The City of Dade City acquired it from CSX Transportation and, using Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funding, restored and renovated it in 1996-1997."
The following information is from Wikipedia:
"The Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot is a railroad station and historic site located in Dade City, Florida, United States.
Built by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now CSX), it is located on the U.S. 98/301 Bypass, across the street from East Meridian Avenue (SR 52). On July 15, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The station is located on CSX's S-Line, which runs along the east side of the building. Amtrak's Palmetto service was provided until November 1, 2004. Today it is served only by Amtrak's Thruway Motorcoach bus service between Jacksonville and Lakeland."