Santa Fe Depot (Lawrence Station), Kansas
Depot museumTrain ridesWorking Amtrak station; no museum hours posted
Lawrence's Santa Fe Depot is a rare thing among historic depots: a 1950s Midwestern Modern station, designed by two University of Kansas graduates, that still welcomes passenger trains on Amtrak's Southwest Chief.
- Opened February 1956
- Midwestern Modern design
- National Register listing in 2018
- Amtrak Southwest Chief stop
Santa Fe Depot (Lawrence Station) at a glance
- Hours
- Working Amtrak station; no museum hours posted
- Admission
- No admission; it is a public station
- Train rides
- Amtrak Southwest Chief stops here; check Amtrak for schedules and fares
- Plan for
- About 15 to 30 minutes for a look at the building
- Best for
- Architecture fans and Amtrak travelers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Santa Fe Depot (Lawrence Station)? 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 Lawrence.
Rally Takes the Train
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A modern depot built after the flood
Lawrence once hoped to become a major railroad hub, but Kansas City won that race in the mid-1800s. Even so, the railroad mattered here, with both the Union Pacific and the Santa Fe stopping in town. The Santa Fe's first depot on this lot was a two-story brick building from 1883, and it was badly damaged when the Kansas River flooded.
Its replacement came in the 1950s. Warren Corman and Warren Jones, both University of Kansas graduates, designed a one-story brick station in the Midwestern Modern style that combined passenger and freight service. Construction began in 1955, and the depot opened in February 1956 at a cost of about $140,000. In January 2018 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Santa Fe Depot, recognized for its architecture as part of Lawrence's post-war historic resources. It remains a working station, served by Amtrak's Southwest Chief.
A working mid-century station
The depot sits at 413 East 7th Street, a few blocks east of downtown Lawrence's commercial corridor. This is an active passenger station rather than a museum with exhibits, so the attraction is the building itself: a low brick station from the mid-1950s that still serves trains. No exhibit hours are posted online.
Don’t miss
- The 1956 Midwestern Modern stationA one-story brick depot designed by KU graduates Warren Corman and Warren Jones.
- Amtrak's Southwest ChiefLawrence is still a stop on the Southwest Chief, so this historic building serves real passengers.
- The National Register listingListed in 2018 for its architectural significance as part of Lawrence's post-war history.
Real trains, real tickets
For kids, the appeal here is simple: it is a real station on a real Amtrak route. Riding the Southwest Chief to or from Lawrence is the best way to experience it. There are no posted kid exhibits, so families who want hands-on displays should pair a stop here with a museum nearby. Read our tips on Amtrak routes with kids before you book.
Plan your visit: tips for Santa Fe Depot (Lawrence Station)
- Check Amtrak's schedule if you hope to see the Southwest Chief arrive.
- This is a working station, not a museum, so plan a short stop.
- Pair it with a museum visit in Topeka, Baldwin City or Ottawa.
Recognized by preservationists
The depot's 2018 National Register listing came through a survey of Lawrence's post-war historic resources. Today it is a working station, so the best way to support it is simply to ride the train from Lawrence and keep passenger service in use.
Rail history within a short drive of Lawrence
The Midland Railway in Baldwin City is about 14 miles south. The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka and the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa are each about 24 miles away. See our list of train museums in Kansas for more stops.
- Midland Railway Historical AssociationBaldwin City, KS · about 14 mi
- Kansas Belle Dinner TrainBaldwin City, KS · about 14 mi
- Old Depot MuseumOttawa, KS · about 24 mi
- Kansas Museum of History railroad exhibitsTopeka, KS · about 24 mi
- Belton, Grandview & Kansas City RailroadBelton, MO · about 39 mi
- Atchison Railroad MuseumAtchison, KS · about 41 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This is a real Amtrak station, which means a real conductor stepping down to greet passengers. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand so Rally can climb aboard the Pacific Surfliner. I love that kids in Lawrence can still have that exact moment at a station built in the 1950s. My mom would have loved it too. Our family story is on our story page.
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 Kansas: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Kansas
- Halloween train rides in Kansas
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Santa Fe Depot (Lawrence Station)?
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.
Lawrence's Historic Santa Fe Depot: 20 questions answered
Where is the Historic Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence, Kansas?
Lawrence's Santa Fe Depot is at 413 East 7th Street in Lawrence, Kansas, a few blocks east of the downtown commercial corridor. It is a working Amtrak station known as Lawrence station. Check Amtrak's website for station details before you go, since no separate visitor information is posted.
When was the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot built?
Construction began in 1955, and the depot opened in February 1956 at a cost of about $140,000. It replaced a two-story brick depot from 1883 on the same lot, which had been seriously damaged by a Kansas River flood. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built it.
Who designed the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
The depot was designed by Warren Corman and Warren Jones, both graduates of the University of Kansas. They created a one-story brick combination passenger and freight station in the Midwestern Modern style, a design that later earned the building its National Register listing.
Is the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot on the National Register?
Yes. The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 2018, as the Santa Fe Depot. It was nominated as part of Historic Resources of Lawrence, which covered the city's post-World War II buildings, and it is significant for its architecture.
Is the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot still a train station?
Yes. Lawrence station is served by Amtrak's Southwest Chief, so the historic depot still sees passenger trains. That makes it one of the few National Register depots in Kansas that is still used for its original purpose. Check Amtrak for current train times.
Can you ride a train from the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
Yes. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops at Lawrence station. Tickets and schedules are sold through Amtrak, not the depot itself, so check Amtrak's website or app for current times and fares before you plan a trip from Lawrence. Arrive early if you are boarding, since this is a working stop.
Is the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot a museum?
No. It is a working train station rather than a museum, and no exhibits or museum hours are posted. The attraction is the 1956 building itself and the chance to see an active passenger station. For rail exhibits, visit the Kansas Museum of History or the Old Depot Museum nearby.
What are the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot hours?
No museum or visitor hours are posted for the depot. As a working Amtrak station, access is tied to train times. Check Amtrak's station information for Lawrence before visiting, and plan a short stop to look at the building. Please stay out of staff-only and track areas.
Is there a fee to visit the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
No admission is charged to see the depot, which is a public train station. You only need a ticket if you are riding Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Be respectful of travelers and staff if you stop in to look at the building.
Where can I find Historic Santa Fe Depot photos for Lawrence?
The Kansas Historical Society holds black and white photographs of the Lawrence depot in its archives, and the depot's National Register listing includes images of the building. Rail and architecture fans also share photos of the station online. Its low brick lines photograph well from the street.
What happened to the old 1883 Lawrence depot?
The Santa Fe's first Lawrence depot on this lot was a two-story brick building built in 1883. It was seriously damaged in a Kansas River flood, and the railroad replaced it with the current one-story station, which opened in 1956.
What is Midwestern Modern architecture?
Midwestern Modern describes mid-century buildings in the region that used clean lines and simple forms. Lawrence's Santa Fe Depot is an example: a low, one-story brick station designed by KU graduates Warren Corman and Warren Jones in the mid-1950s. The design reflects the building boom of the post-war years.
Did Lawrence become a major railroad hub?
No. Lawrence tried in the mid-1800s to become a major railroad hub, but those efforts faltered as Kansas City grew into the region's main terminus. Still, both the Union Pacific and the Santa Fe served Lawrence, and the railroad was essential to the town.
Is the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot good for kids?
It can be a fun quick stop for kids who love trains, especially if you time it with an Amtrak arrival. There are no kid exhibits, so families wanting hands-on displays should pair it with a nearby museum. Riding the Southwest Chief is the best way to experience it.
Is there parking at the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
Parking details for the depot are not posted outside of Amtrak's station information. Check Amtrak's listing for Lawrence before you go, especially if you plan to leave a car while you travel on the Southwest Chief, and allow extra time to find a spot near East 7th Street.
Is the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot accessible?
Accessibility details for the depot are not posted outside Amtrak's station listing for Lawrence. Travelers who need help boarding the Southwest Chief, or who use a wheelchair, should arrange assistance through Amtrak when booking so staff know to expect them at the station.
Are there events at the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
No regular events are posted for the depot. It is a working station rather than an event venue. For holiday and seasonal train rides in Kansas, look at the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad's Pumpkin Harvest Express and Cowtown Santa Express.
Who owns the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
The depot was built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Current ownership and management details are not posted, but the station is served by Amtrak. For questions about using the station, contact Amtrak. Its National Register listing recognizes the building's architecture.
How long should I plan at the Lawrence Santa Fe Depot?
Plan about 15 to 30 minutes to look at the building and its mid-century design from the outside and in the waiting area. If you want to watch the Southwest Chief arrive, check Amtrak's schedule and allow extra time around the train's posted arrival so you do not miss it.
What train museums are near Lawrence, Kansas?
The Midland Railway in Baldwin City is about 14 miles away. The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka, with its 1880 Santa Fe locomotive, and the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa are each about 24 miles. The Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad in Missouri is about 39 miles.
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