View source for Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot (Salt Lake City)

{{Short description|Former train station in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.}}
{{Infobox station
| style=Amtrak |style2=Amtrak old
| name=Rio Grande Depot
| type=Former [[Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad|D&RGW Railroad]] and [[Amtrak]] station
| image=Denver & Rio Grande Western Depot in SLC - Feb 3, 2011.jpg
| image_caption= Rio Grande Depot, February 2011
| address=300 S. Rio Grande, [[Salt Lake City]]
| country=
| tracks=None remaining
| structure=At-grade
| opened=1910
| closed=1999 (passenger service)
| rebuilt=
| accessible=
| code=SLC
| owned=[[Utah|State of Utah]]
| services=
| other_services_header = Former services
| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Amtrak
|line1=California Zephyr|left1=Elko|right1=Provo
|line2=Desert Wind|left2=Milford|right2=Provo|note-mid2=Discontinued in 1997
|line3=Desert Wind|left3=Delta|right3=Provo|note-left3=Dropped in 1988|note-mid3=Discontinued in 1997
|line4=Pioneer|left4=Ogden|right4=Provo|note-mid4=Before 1991 reroute
|system5=Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
|line5=Main Line|left5=Ogden|right5=Provo|note-mid5=Discontinued 1983
|line6=Royal Gorge|left6=Ogden|right6=Provo
|line7=California Zephyr|through-left7=[[Western Pacific Depot|Oakland]] via WP Feather River Route|right7=Provo
|system8=Western Pacific Railroad
|line8=Feather River Route|left8=Burmester
|line9=California Zephyr|left9=Wendover|through-right9=[[Chicago Union Station|Chicago]] via Rio Grande Main Line
}}
| nrhp=
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed        = yes
| name         = Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Station
| nrhp_type    =
| image        =
| caption      =
| location     =
| coordinates  = {{coord|40|45|46|N|111|54|16|W|type:railwaystation_region:US-UT|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin     = Utah#USA
| built        = 1910
| architect    = [[Henry Schlacks|Henry J. Schlacks]]
| architecture = [[Renaissance Revival architecture|Renaissance Revival]], [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]]
| added        = 25 September 1975
| area         = {{convert|2|acre}}
| refnum       = 75001815<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref>
}}
}}
The '''Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot''', commonly referred to as the '''Rio Grande Depot''', is a former [[train station]] on the western edge of [[Downtown Salt Lake City]].
==History==
[[File:California Zephyr last western run 1970.jpg|thumb|left|''[[California Zephyr]]'' at the depot on its last western run, 1970]]
The depot was constructed by the [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad]] in 1910 at a cost of US$750,000.<ref name="DN 100">{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/4/19/20109682/all-aboard-rio-grande-depot-turns-100-this-year/|title=All aboard! Rio Grande Depot turns 100 this year: Former Salt Lake train station now houses restaurant, museum ... and ghost?|last=Haddock|first=Marc|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|publisher=[[Deseret Digital Media]]|location=[[Salt Lake City]]|date=19 Apr 2010|access-date=9 Jan 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109142642/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700025675/All-aboard-Rio-Grande-Depot-turns-100-this-year.html?pg=all|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The depot was the main jewel of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, and was designed by Chicago architect [[Henry Schlacks]], who was best known in Chicago for his design of churches, but had also designed the [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Depot (Grand Junction, Colorado)|Denver and Rio Grande Depot]] in Grand Junction, Colorado, for the railroad.<ref name="UHQ Summer 2010">{{cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Brandon|title=One Building's Life: A History of Salt Lake City's Denver and Rio Grande Depot|journal=Utah Historical Quarterly|date=Summer 2010|volume=78|issue=3|pages=196–217 |doi=10.2307/45063266 |jstor=45063266 |s2cid=254436179 |url=http://utahhistory.sdlhost.com/#/item/000000033000227/view/8|access-date=2014-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617103525/http://utahhistory.sdlhost.com/#/item/000000033000227/view/8|archive-date=2014-06-17|url-status=live}}</ref> It was specifically intended to surpass the nearby [[Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot]], which had been built the previous year for US$300,000.<ref name="DN 100"/> Schlacks's relationship with D&RG was fraught with antagonism, mainly over his pay, which led to delay in the depot's construction. One interesting, and ironic, point was that Schlacks's brother was D&RG's vice president.<ref name="UHQ Summer 2010" />
The depot was built with elements of [[Renaissance Revival architecture|Renaissance Revival]] and [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux Arts]]. The high-arched windows at the center were originally installed with green glass to keep the waiting area cool. The depot included a barber shop, a restaurant, a men's smoking room and a women's lounge. There was also a telegraph office and a souvenir/snack bar. The depot opened Salt Lake City to a new influx of immigrants. The depot was also a central point in shipping soldiers off to war in both World War I and World War II. The rise of highway auto travel in the 1950s struck a blow to rail travel and service at the depot dwindled.<ref name="UHQ Summer 2010" />
The depot was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1975. The State of Utah purchased the depot in 1977 for [[Peppercorn (legal)|US$1]] and the building is currently home to the [[Utah State Historical Society]] and its research center, the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, as well as the Rio Gallery.<ref name="DN 100"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://heritage.utah.gov/history/contact-us-history|title=Utah Division of State History: Contact State History|website=utah.gov|publisher=[[Utah|State of Utah]]|access-date=9 Jan 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212124515/http://heritage.utah.gov/history/contact-us-history|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
The depot was damaged during the [[2020 Salt Lake City earthquake]], requiring tenants (including a café and the Utah Division of State History) to relocate.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=December 2, 2020 |title=Rio Grande Depot still closed from earthquake, forces longtime café to move |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/rio-grande-depot-still-closed-from-earthquake-forces-longtime-cafe-to-move |work=Fox 13 Utah |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=October 25, 2022}}</ref>
===Amtrak===
From 1986 to 1999, the depot served as Salt Lake City's [[Amtrak]] station, replacing the Union Pacific Depot. It was served by the ''[[California Zephyr]]'', ''[[Desert Wind]]'', and ''[[Pioneer (Amtrak)|Pioneer]]'' trains, with the latter two having been discontinued in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19861026&item=0009|title=Amtrak National Timetables|website=timetables.org|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|page=8|date=26 Oct 1986|access-date=9 Jan 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141430/http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19861026&item=0009|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19990516n&item=0017|title=Amtrak National Timetable: Spring/Summer 1999|website=timetables.org|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|page=17|date=16 May 1999|access-date=9 Jan 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141520/http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19990516n&item=0017|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>  The ''California Zephyr'' runs once daily between [[Chicago]] and [[Emeryville, California]]. The former ''Desert Wind'' ran daily from Chicago to [[Los Angeles]], and the former ''Pioneer'' ran daily Chicago to [[Seattle]]. By 1999, Amtrak had moved to the [[Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19991031n&item=0017|title=Amtrak Timetable: Fall 1999/Winter 2000|website=timetables.org|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|page=17|date=31 Oct 1999|access-date=9 Jan 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141451/http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19991031n&item=0017|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> after which the tracks near the depot were permanently removed.
== Future ==
Since 2015, the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency has designated the areas directly west of the Rio Grande Depot as "Station Center" and made their redevelopment into a mixed-use, transit-oriented district one of its priorities.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=April 2|first1=Marjorie Cortez {{!}} Posted-|last2=P.m|first2=2015 at 10:28|title=Plans unveiled for SLC's Station Center, a mixed-use urban neighborhood|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/34085220/plans-unveiled-for-slcs-station-center-a-mixed-use-urban-neighborhood|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.ksl.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Garrott|first=Luke|date=2020-11-12|title=City moves to create a plaza-like feel in Station Center, aiming to make a splash in the Depot District|url=https://www.buildingsaltlake.com/city-moves-to-create-a-plaza-like-feel-in-station-center-aiming-to-make-a-splash-in-the-depot-district/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Building Salt Lake|language=en-US}}</ref> The Depot itself is now considered by the agency to be a "barrier to development"<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 28, 2021|title=Station Center Innovation District Concept|url=https://slcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-06-02-RAC-Packet.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=September 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929184251/https://slcrda.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-06-02-RAC-Packet.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-29 }}</ref> because of its position blocking 300 South Street.
===Rio Grande Plan===
In 2020, citizen professionals proposed reopening the Depot as Salt Lake City's main passenger rail and bus terminal, replacing [[Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub|Salt Lake Central Station]]. The "Rio Grande Plan" would move all downtown rail traffic underground into a cut-and-cover trench along 500 West, with Amtrak and [[FrontRunner]] trains serving sunlit platforms on the west side of the Depot. [[Utah Transit Authority|UTA's]] bus and [[TRAX (light rail)|TRAX light rail]] routes would stop at the east side of the Depot on Rio Grande Street, while regional buses would board at the north and south sides. The proposal would also eliminate three [[overpass]]es, five [[Level crossing|grade crossings]], and 52 acres of [[rail yard]]s—opening up redevelopment opportunities while improving safety and connectivity. The authors estimate the cost of the project would be $300 to $500&nbsp;million, pointing to comparable work in [[Reno station#History|Reno]] and [[Denver Union Station#21st century: Renovations|Denver]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lenhart |first1=Christian |last2=Blakely |first2=Cameron |title=Rio Grande Plan |url=https://riograndeplansaltlakecity.org/?page_id=5 |access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref>
By 2021, the plan had started to gain traction among the Salt Lake City Council and other stakeholders. To move forward, the plan would require buy-in from the Utah state government, UTA, and [[Union Pacific]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garrott|first=Luke|date=2021-09-27|title=The Rio Grande Plan, updated: Putting trains underground in Depot and Granary Districts gets Salt Lake City's attention|url=https://www.buildingsaltlake.com/the-rio-grande-plan-updated-putting-trains-underground-in-depot-and-granary-districts-gets-salt-lake-citys-attention/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Building Salt Lake|language=en-US}}</ref>
In February 2023 Salt Lake City was awarded a federal grant to study solutions to the east–west divide, including the Rio Grande Plan.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Reconnecting Communities: Healing Salt Lake City's East-West Divide |url=https://www.slc.gov/transportation/plans-studies/east-west-connections/ |access-date=}}</ref>
In December 2023, Salt Lake City revealed that it had conducted a screening analysis on the plan which expanded the scope due to stricter design requirements by UTA and Union Pacific. The revised project is estimated to cost between $3 billion and $5 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Grande Plan Screening Analysis |url=https://www.slc.gov/transportation/plans-studies/rio-grande-plan-screening-analysis/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Transportation |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|National Register of Historic Places|Utah}}}}
* [[Buildings and sites of Salt Lake City]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Salt Lake City]]
* [[Yule marble]]
==References==
{{reflist|22em}}
==Further reading==
* Johnson, B. (2010). "One Building's Life: A History of Salt Lake City's Denver and Rio Grande Depot". ''Utah Historical Quarterly''. '''78''' (3). pp.&nbsp;196–217.
==External links ==
{{stack|{{commons category|Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot (Salt Lake City)}}}}
* [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/saltlake.htm Salt Lake City Amtrak Station, with former Rio Grande & Union Pacific Stations (USA RailGuide – TrainWeb)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716064704/http://history.utah.gov/about_us/depot.html Utah State Historical Society – Rio Grande Depot]
{{Amtrak Utah stations}}
{{NRHP in Utah by county}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Former Amtrak stations in Utah]]
[[Category:Former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad stations|Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Former Western Pacific Railroad stations]]
[[Category:Former railway stations in Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1910]]
[[Category:Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Utah]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1999]]