Restoration
The final whistle blast sounded at the station in 1956. In 1980, the Great Northern Railway sold the neglected depot to the City of Anacortes. The restoration process began, supported by grants, corporate and private donations, and plenty of volunteer sweat equity. In 1987, the Depot Arts Center was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
With insistence on reflecting the station’s original grace, restoration is an ongoing process made possible through the generosity of public and private grants and donations.
Attention to Detail
The exterior of the 32' by 150' building was crafted in Queen Anne style with vitrified brick pavers, stained wood and stucco. Local Chuckanut sandstone was used for the water table and sill course. A 24-foot wide platform of bricks interlocked in a herringbone pattern to surround the station, and the original roof was of Bangor slate with red tile trim.
The former men’s and women’s waiting rooms glow with north light which glazes the terrazzo marble floor. Tiffany enamel tiles serve as rich wainscoting, banking the walls to five feet. Coved ceilings, woodwork and antique brushed brass fixtures are remnants of turn-of-the-20th-century charm. These rooms, each 20' by 30', are separated by the old ticket and telegraph office.
Adjoining the men’s waiting room was a baggage room where visitors now enjoy a gallery of railroad photographs and memorabilia.
The neighboring 30' by 70' freight room has been recently renovated and features a gleaming wood floor. Portions of the original wall remain with graffiti from 1913. The freight and baggage rooms are now used for community gatherings, receptions, dance rehearsals, drawing classes, and more.
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