Danville Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Also known as: Danville Feed and Garden Supply Store
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Why it's listed
Built in 1891 by the Southern Pacific Railroad, this two-story depot on Railroad Avenue in Danville served the town as a freight and passenger station. It is clad in horizontal wood siding with decorative shingles and reflects the Stick/Eastlake style. Railroad service ended in 1978, and the building later housed a feed and garden supply store. It was recognized for its role in local transportation from 1891 to 1939 and as the only intact survivor of four comparable depots in the region. The town owns the building but not the land beneath it, and a court order required its removal. Plans called for separating the two-story section from the freight room, which had been bolted together, and moving them about 800 feet north to former station land, keeping the same orientation toward Railroad Avenue. The relocation was approved in 1995 to keep the building from demolition. A local museum intends to restore it and use it as a museum.
Significance in brief: It was listed under Criterion A in the area of transportation for its local role as a freight and passenger facility between 1891 and 1939. It is described as the sole intact survivor of four similar depots in the area, and the staff evaluation ties it to the early transportation history of the San Ramon Valley.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000860, listed August 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 355 Railroad Ave., Danville |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | August 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000860 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorating with a failing roof and broken windows, fenced in a weed field. In 1995 a move about 800 feet north onto former station grounds was approved so that a local museum could restore it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.81954, -121.99829 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000860.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5221386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.