Choctaw Route Station - Little Rock, Arkansas
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 34° 44.733 W 092° 15.550
15S E 567811 N 3845075
Historic former railroad passenger depot in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Waymark Code: WMB57B
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 04/06/2011
Views: 7
Text from information sign:
Choctaw Route Station
(1899)
Constructed in 1899, the Choctaw Route Station served as a passenger depot the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad Company before become property of the Rock Island Railroad in 1902. The station served as a major passenger terminal on the Rock Island line until the mid 1950's. The terminal building housed two waiting rooms, a baggage room, restaurant and dining room. With a highly decorative terra cotta frieze surrounding the second story, this turn-of the century railroad depot remains one of the finest examples of railroad architecture in Arkansas.
Rock Island Raild Service along the Choctaw Route officially ended in 1967 and the station went on to house a restaurant, night club and church until the mid 1990's.
The area surrounding the Choctaw Station was a warehouse district in 1997 when President Clinton chose this site to construct the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park. The Clinton Center opened November 18, 2004, and the Chocktaw Station became the headquarters of the William J. Clinton Foundation and home of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, which offers the nation's first Master of Public Service Degree.
The Choctaw Station is called Sturgis Hall in recognition of a major renovation grant from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Trust.