Historic Sandpoint Train Depot, Idaho
Historic rail siteTrain ridesActive Amtrak station; no museum hours posted
Built for the Northern Pacific around 1916, Sandpoint's red brick Gothic Revival depot is the oldest remaining active passenger depot of that railroad and still welcomes Amtrak's Empire Builder.
- Built around 1916
- Only Gothic-style depot in Idaho
- Amtrak Empire Builder stop
- National Register listed in 1973
- 2015 Orchid Award for preservation
Historic Sandpoint Train Depot at a glance
- Hours
- Active train station; no museum hours posted. Check Amtrak for Empire Builder times
- Admission
- No admission; it is a working station
- Train rides
- Amtrak Empire Builder passenger service; book through Amtrak
- Plan for
- About 15 to 30 minutes to see the building
- Best for
- Architecture fans and families riding or watching Amtrak
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 Sandpoint Train 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 Sandpoint.
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.
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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 depot built to impress, still serving trains
By the mid-1910s Sandpoint was prosperous and growing, and in 1915 the town decided it deserved a fancier depot to impress arriving travelers. Rounds Construction Company of Seattle produced a one-story red brick building in the Gothic Revival style, completed around 1916 at a cost of about $25,000, on the west side of the tracks at the base of the Cedar Street Bridge. It is the only Gothic-style railroad depot in Idaho.
The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is the oldest remaining active passenger depot of the former Northern Pacific Railway, and since 1997 it has been the only operating Amtrak station in Idaho, served by the Empire Builder. BNSF Railway owns the site. A careful rehabilitation earned Preservation Idaho's 2015 Orchid Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, so the building can keep serving travelers while meeting preservation standards.
Brick, Gothic details and passing trains
There is no museum gallery here. The draw is the building itself, a well-kept one-story red brick depot with Gothic Revival details, and the trains that still pass on the BNSF line. Historic photos of the depot are held by the Bonner County Historical Museum.
Don’t miss
- The Gothic Revival facadeIt is the only Gothic-style railroad depot in Idaho.
- A working Amtrak platformThe Empire Builder still stops here, the only operating Amtrak station in the state.
Watching real trains in a real station
For train-loving kids, the thrill here is seeing an active railroad and a station where passengers still board long-distance trains. Keep children well back from the tracks, since this is a working line. Families thinking about riding can start with our guide to Amtrak routes with kids.
Plan your visit: tips for Historic Sandpoint Train Depot
- Stay off the tracks and platform edges; this is an active BNSF line.
- The station is not a museum, so plan a short look at the building.
- Combine with the Silverwood steam train, about 24 miles south.
Owners and stewards
BNSF Railway owns the station site, and Amtrak serves it with the Empire Builder. The 2015 rehabilitation was recognized by Preservation Idaho, and the Bonner County Historical Museum keeps historic images of the depot. Riding the train and respecting the building are the best ways visitors can support it.
North Idaho train stops to add
The Silverwood steam engine train is about 24 miles south, and the Spokane Inland Empire Railroad Historical Society is about 57 miles away. The Wallace Depot Museum is about 63 miles off. See every train museum in Idaho for more.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Sandpoint's depot still sends real passengers off on long trips, and I can picture a kid at a train window there, nose to the glass. Rally does the same in our book, gazing out an arched window at the ocean and greeting a white bird. Our train is the Pacific Surfliner out of San Diego, but the wonder is the same everywhere. Our coloring pages let kids draw their own view.
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 Idaho: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Idaho
- Halloween train rides in Idaho
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Historic Sandpoint Train Depot?
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Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Historic Sandpoint Train Depot: 20 quick answers
What is the Historic Sandpoint Train Depot?
The Historic Sandpoint Train Depot is a one-story red brick Gothic Revival railroad station in Sandpoint, Idaho, built for the Northern Pacific around 1916. It is still an active passenger station, the stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Is the Sandpoint Train Depot a museum?
No. It is a working train station rather than a museum, so there are no exhibit galleries or museum hours posted. Visitors come to see the historic building and to board or watch Amtrak trains. Historic photos of the depot are kept by the Bonner County Historical Museum.
When was the Sandpoint Train Depot built?
Sandpoint decided in 1915 that it needed a grander depot, and the brick station was completed around 1916 at a cost of about $25,000. Local histories give 1915 or 1916 depending on whether they count the decision or the finished building.
Who built the Sandpoint depot?
Rounds Construction Company of Seattle produced the current one-story brick building. It replaced an older, plainer depot, and the new station was larger and more modern, meant to impress travelers arriving in a growing town.
Why is the Sandpoint depot unique?
It is the only Gothic-style railroad depot in Idaho, the oldest remaining active passenger depot of the former Northern Pacific Railway, and the only operating Amtrak station in Idaho. Few depots of its age anywhere are still in passenger service.
Does Amtrak stop in Sandpoint, Idaho?
Yes. Sandpoint is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder, and it has been the only operating Amtrak station in Idaho since 1997. Check Amtrak for current schedules and tickets, since long-distance train times can vary.
Can you ride a train from the Sandpoint depot?
Yes. Passengers board Amtrak's Empire Builder at Sandpoint. Tickets and schedules are handled by Amtrak, not the city, so book through Amtrak and confirm departure times before you travel. Families planning a first long-distance ride can pair the trip with a look at the 1916 building before boarding.
Is the Sandpoint Train Depot on the National Register?
Yes. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, in recognition of its design integrity and its place in Sandpoint's railroad history. That listing came decades before the depot's later rehabilitation, and it helped protect the building's original character.
Who owns the Sandpoint Train Depot?
The station site is owned by BNSF Railway, the successor to the Northern Pacific, and Amtrak serves it with passenger trains. The City of Sandpoint also keeps an informational page about the depot on its website.
Was the Sandpoint depot restored?
Yes. A rehabilitation of the depot allowed Amtrak to keep serving travelers there while meeting high historic preservation standards. Preservation Idaho honored the project with its 2015 Orchid Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The award recognized work that kept the depot useful for modern rail passengers.
Where is the Sandpoint Train Depot?
The depot sits on the west side of the railroad tracks at the base of the Cedar Street Bridge in Sandpoint, Idaho. A street address is not posted on the city's depot page, so use Amtrak's station listing for directions.
What are the Sandpoint Train Depot hours?
No visitor hours are posted for the depot. As an Amtrak station, access is tied to train times, so check Amtrak's station information before you go if you want to see inside. The red brick exterior and Gothic details can be appreciated from outside the station.
Is there an admission fee at the Sandpoint depot?
No admission is charged to look at the depot; it is a working train station rather than a ticketed attraction. You only pay if you are buying an Amtrak ticket to ride the Empire Builder.
Is the Sandpoint depot good for kids?
It is a fun short stop for kids who love trains, because they can see a real station still in use. Keep children well back from the tracks, since freight and passenger trains use the line, and plan for a brief visit.
Is there parking at the Sandpoint Train Depot?
Parking details are not posted on the city's depot page. Amtrak's station listing for Sandpoint is the best place to check parking and access before you arrive to ride or meet a train. Arrive early if you are catching a train so you have time to find a spot.
Is the Sandpoint Train Depot accessible?
Accessibility details are not posted on the city's depot page. Amtrak lists station accessibility for its stops, so check the Sandpoint station listing or call Amtrak if you need assistance boarding. Mention any mobility needs when you book so help can be arranged.
What railroad built the Sandpoint depot?
The depot was built for the Northern Pacific Railway, and it later served the Burlington Northern, which took over the Northern Pacific. Today the site belongs to BNSF Railway and the station is served by Amtrak.
Where can I see old photos of the Sandpoint depot?
The Bonner County Historical Museum holds historic photographs of the depot, including an image from around 1916 showing the new station on the west side of the tracks. Spokane Historical has also published one online.
Are there events at the Sandpoint Train Depot?
No regular events are posted for the depot. It operates as an active Amtrak station, so the main activity is train arrivals and departures. Check the City of Sandpoint website for any community happenings. Train watching from a safe distance is the most reliable activity here.
What train attractions are near Sandpoint?
The Silverwood Theme Park steam engine train in Athol is about 24 miles away. The Spokane Inland Empire Railroad Historical Society is about 57 miles off, and the Wallace Depot Museum, in a 1901 Northern Pacific depot, is about 63 miles away.
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