Demise of the old Railroad depot

Painting from a recent gift to SAHS. 2023.07

The Stanwood railroad depot was built in the 1890s when the Great Northern Railroad was connected the Puget Sound with the midwestern section of the United States.

The painting on the right captures the details of the siding. The initials of the painter are not familiar but was  certainly done before 1973 when the depot was finally destroyed after the last passenger run in 1971 when Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) took over the run. Amtrak regulations at that time did not allow service to any point outside of the United States.

Last train carrying passengers from Stanwood depot was April 30, 1971. Photo by Howard Hansen of the Stanwood News

The depot was demolished two years later in April 1973.  The Stanwood Station now provides passenger service  using Amtrak and connect with Vancouver B. C. and the Empire Builder from Everett.

Visit the Dave Eldridge Center (formerly called the Stanwood Camano museum) to see more photographs and maps of the community.