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Kirkwood station (Missouri)

Kirkwood, MO
Kirkwood station in October 2016
General information
Location110 West Argonne Drive
Kirkwood, Missouri
United States
Coordinates38°34′51″N 90°24′24″W / 38.5809°N 90.4068°W / 38.5809; -90.4068
OwnerCity of Kirkwood
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks2
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: KWD
History
Opened1853
Rebuilt1863, 1893
Passengers
FY 202559,959[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Washington Missouri River Runner St. Louis
Terminus
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Jefferson City National Limited St. Louis–Union Station
Preceding station Missouri Pacific Railroad Following station
Barrett Main Line Webster Groves
toward St. Louis
Kirkwood Missouri Pacific Depot
Arealess than one acre
ArchitectDouglas Donovan
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.85001476[2]
Added to NRHPJuly 5, 1985
Location
Map

Kirkwood station is an Amtrak train station in Kirkwood, Missouri, United States. It is served by the Missouri River Runner. The 1893-built station building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 as the Kirkwood Missouri Pacific Depot.

History

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Kirkwood station in 1973

In 1851, the land where the current station is located (Argonne Avenue and Kirkwood Road) was obtained from Owen Collins by the Pacific Railroad for a right of way. The track for the Pacific Railroad to Kirkwood was completed in 1853. The first train arrived May 11, 1853, for an auction sale of lots, making Kirkwood the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi. The town was named for the chief engineer for the railroad, James P. Kirkwood.

In 1863, a frame depot was built. Here members of the first school board met to draft the charter of the Kirkwood School District, which was granted in 1865. In 1893, Douglas Donovan was hired by the Missouri Pacific Railroad to construct the current stone station to replace the wooden station. The current station remains today as an outstanding example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.

Commuter trains ran to and from Kirkwood until 1961. A train turn-table was located near the present Farmers Market for the engines to be turned for the return trip to St. Louis and for the helper engines, which were used to help freight trains manage the "Kirkwood Hill," prior to the arrival of diesel engines. Though originally deemed ineligible for such status,[3] the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1985.

On November 9, 2022, Amtrak announced plans to renovate the station.[4] A $5.7 million station renovation project replaced the slate roof, installed a new geothermal heating and cooling system, and renovated the interior with new restrooms and seating areas. The work was completed in September 2026.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal year 2025: State of Missouri" (PDF). Amtrak. January 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  3. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places – Nomination Form" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  4. ↑ Colbert, Ethan. "Amtrak investing $3M into downtown Washington station". The Missourian. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Suchland, Colin. "Historic Kirkwood Train Station On Track For September Revival". Webster-Kirkwood Times. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
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