Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot, Wyoming
Historic rail siteCity-owned event hall; no regular museum hours
The Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot is a 1901 station on Front Street that served Union Pacific and later Amtrak passengers, and now the City of Rawlins keeps it in use as a community event hall beside Depot Park.
- Built in 1901
- National Register listed 1993
- Union Pacific division point town
- City-owned event hall
- Next to Depot Park
Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot at a glance
- Hours
- No public museum hours; the building opens for rentals
- Admission
- No museum admission; room rentals are $200 per room per day
- Plan for
- About 15 to 30 minutes outside
- Best for
- Road trippers following Union Pacific history
- Accessibility
- East room restrooms are accessible; Center room restrooms are not.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Rawlins.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A division point depot on Front Street
Union Pacific chose Rawlins as a division point in the late 1800s, drawn by a permanent water source and the semi-arid climate. The town quickly became a transportation hub for northern Colorado and interior Wyoming, with stage lines running north to Lander and south to Saratoga and Baggs.
The depot that stands today was built in 1901 and served Union Pacific passengers until 1971. Amtrak trains stopped here from 1971 to 1983 and again from 1991 to 1997. In 1993 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Union Pacific Railroad Depot, recognized for showing how the railroad shaped the growth of Rawlins. The City of Rawlins now owns it and rents it out for meetings, weddings, receptions and parties, which keeps the old station busy. There is no regular museum inside, so travelers mostly see it from the street and from Depot Park.
The station and the park beside it
The depot sits at 400 W. Front Street, at the corner of 4th and Front in downtown Rawlins. Inside are two rentable rooms, the Center room and the East room. Next door, Depot Park has a pavilion that can be reserved separately, and the park makes a good place to stretch your legs while you look at the building.
Don’t miss
- The 1901 depotListed on the National Register in 1993, it marks the railroad that built Rawlins.
- Depot ParkThe park and pavilion next to the station are an easy stop for families.
A quick look and some park time
There are no exhibits for children here, so treat the depot as a short stop: look at the old station, talk about the trains that once stopped in Rawlins, and let kids burn off energy in Depot Park.
Plan your visit: tips for Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot
- Visit Depot Park next door for a picnic or a break on a road trip.
- To rent the depot, book online or call the Rawlins Family Recreation Center.
- Do not plan on going inside unless you have an event booked.
Owned and rented by the City of Rawlins
The City of Rawlins owns the depot and handles rentals through its Parks and Recreation Department and the Rawlins Family Recreation Center. Renting the depot or the Depot Park pavilion for your own gathering is the most direct way to support its upkeep and keep the historic station in use.
Following the Union Pacific across Wyoming
East along the line, the Laramie Historic Railroad Depot is about 91 miles away and has a free museum. The Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center is about 116 miles off, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum is about 134 miles. Our Wyoming train museum guide has more.
- Historic Laramie Railroad DepotLaramie, WY · about 91 mi
- Douglas Railroad Interpretive CenterDouglas, WY · about 116 mi
- Wyoming Transportation MuseumDouglas, WY · about 116 mi
- Union Pacific Steam Shop historic collectionCheyenne, WY · about 133 mi
- Wyoming State Museum railroad exhibitsCheyenne, WY · about 133 mi
- Cheyenne Depot MuseumCheyenne, WY · about 134 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Old depots like this one had platforms where travelers climbed up into tall passenger cars. Those steps were made for grown-ups, and in our book they are far too big for a corgi. Rally stands at the bottom looking up until Dad scoops him up and gives him a boost, with Mom right behind. It is a small moment of family teamwork I love. You can color it on our coloring pages.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Wyoming: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Wyoming
- Halloween train rides in Wyoming
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Historic Rawlins depot: 20 common questions
Where is the historic Rawlins train depot?
The Historic Depot is at 400 W. Front Street in downtown Rawlins, Wyoming, at the intersection of 4th and Front streets. Depot Park and its pavilion sit right next to the building, so it is easy to spot as you drive through downtown.
Is the Rawlins Union Pacific Depot a museum?
No. The city does not list museum exhibits or public hours for the depot. It is a city-owned former train station used as a rental hall for meetings, weddings, receptions, birthdays and graduation parties. Visitors can see the outside and enjoy Depot Park next door.
When was the Rawlins depot built?
The Rawlins depot was built in 1901. It served Union Pacific passengers from then until 1971, then Amtrak from 1971 to 1983 and again from 1991 to 1997. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 as the Union Pacific Railroad Depot.
Is the Rawlins depot on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added to the National Register in 1993 under the name Union Pacific Railroad Depot. The listing recognizes how the railroad and its transportation links drove the settlement and growth of Rawlins. The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office has more on its history.
Why did the Union Pacific make Rawlins a division point?
Local history accounts say Union Pacific picked Rawlins as a division point thanks to its permanent water source and semi-arid climate. Rawlins then became a hub for northern Colorado and interior Wyoming, with stage lines heading north to Lander and south to Saratoga and Baggs.
Do trains still stop at the Rawlins depot?
No. Passenger service at the depot ended when Amtrak's last stop here came in 1997, after earlier service from 1971 to 1983 and 1991 to 1997. The building is now a community event space owned by the City of Rawlins.
Can I rent the historic depot in Rawlins?
Yes. The depot has two rooms, the Center room and the East room, which can be rented separately or together. As of October 2026, each room rents for $200 per day with a $150 deposit per room, for a 24-hour period starting at 7 am. Book online through the city.
How many people fit in the Rawlins depot?
The Center room holds up to 101 people and includes use of the full non-industrial kitchen. The East room holds up to 93 people and has a small sink and short counter. Renting both rooms together gives you the whole hall.
How do I book the Rawlins depot?
The city prefers online booking, where you can also check availability. Without internet access, call the Rawlins Family Recreation Center at (307) 324-7529 or stop by 1616 Harshman during its regular hours. Keys must be picked up by 4 pm on the last business day before your rental.
Is the Rawlins depot wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The city says the East room's men's and women's single-stall restrooms are handicapped accessible, but the Center room's restrooms are not. Call the Rawlins Family Recreation Center at (307) 324-7529 to ask about entrances and other access details before booking.
Can I rent the Depot Park pavilion in Rawlins?
Yes. The pavilion at Depot Park, next to the depot, can be reserved through the Parks and Recreation Department online, at the Rawlins Family Recreation Center at 1616 Harshman, or by calling (307) 324-7529. Renting the pavilion does not include access to the depot itself.
Can you have alcohol at a Rawlins depot event?
Yes, with a permit. The city requires an alcohol permit if alcohol is present, issued at City Hall for a small fee. Having alcohol without one can bring legal consequences. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the building.
Is the Rawlins depot worth a stop with kids?
It is a quick stop rather than a full outing. There are no exhibits inside, but kids can look at the old station and play in Depot Park next door. Pair it with a longer museum visit in Laramie, about 91 miles east.
Are there tours of the Rawlins depot?
The city does not offer public tours of the depot online. It is managed as a rental hall, so the inside is mainly open during booked events. Call the Rawlins Family Recreation Center at (307) 324-7529 to ask whether a quick look inside is ever possible.
What is the rental time at the Rawlins depot?
Rentals run from 7 am to 7 am the next day, a full 24 hours. If you need to set up the day before or clean up the day after, you must rent those days too. Keys are due back by 10 am the next business day.
Who owns the Rawlins Union Pacific Depot?
The City of Rawlins owns the depot as a public facility. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Rawlins Family Recreation Center handle rentals. For historic details, the city points visitors to the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.
How long should I spend at the Rawlins depot?
Fifteen to thirty minutes is plenty to look at the 1901 station from outside and walk through Depot Park. If you are following Union Pacific history across Wyoming, it fits easily into a drive between Laramie and points west.
Is there parking at the Rawlins depot?
The city does not detail parking for the depot online. It sits downtown at 4th and Front streets, so look for street parking nearby. If you are renting the hall for a large event, ask the recreation center about parking when you book.
What was Rawlins like as a railroad town?
Rawlins was a busy Union Pacific division point and transportation hub. Stage lines ran north to Lander and south to Saratoga and Baggs, linking interior Wyoming and northern Colorado to the railroad. The 1901 depot is the clearest reminder of that era downtown.
What train museums are near Rawlins?
The Laramie Historic Railroad Depot, about 91 miles east, has a free museum and tours. The Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center is about 116 miles away, and Cheyenne, about 133 to 134 miles away, has the Cheyenne Depot Museum and the Big Boy No. 4004 display.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.