Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Depot - Hopkins, MN
Posted by: 
REUAHNESIE
N 44° 55.424 W 093° 23.956
15T E 468489 N 4974555
This red brick depot was built in 1903 by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad in Hopkins, MN.
Waymark Code: WMBQPQ
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 06/14/2011
Views: 10
The original depot was replaced around 1903 with the present red brick building. Passenger cars stopped running on the line in 1960. The station was in operation for freight transportation until approximately 1971 or 1972 when automated switching replaced the need for employees at the station. The last train ran on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad tracks on June 21, 1980.
The depot sat vacant from 1980 through 1998. A lease was signed between the owner, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, and the City of Hopkins and the Hopkins School District. Later, Three Rivers Park District also joined as a lessee. Funding partners include the lessees as well as the Ridgedale YMCA and Park Nicollet Foundation.
To fulfill the vision, the depot required $300,000 in renovations. This was accomplished with $100,000 in grants and $200,000 in donated materials and labor. Thanks to incredible efforts from the community, The Depot Coffee House opened September 2, 1998.
Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: Yes
Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes
If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?:
The Depot Coffee House is open to the public and offers the best coffee brewed daily and roasted locally in Minneapolis. The coffee is both organic and Fair Trade—principles important to us as a socially and environmentally responsible business.
What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad
Station/Depot Web Site: [Web Link]
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