Colfax Freight Depot
Why it's listed
This freight depot at 7 Main Street in Colfax was built by the Central Pacific Railroad around 1880 to a standard Southern Pacific plan known as Freight House No. 2. It is a rectangular, wood-frame building with a gable roof, wide overhanging eaves, crossed braces and the vertical and horizontal stickwork typical of the Stick style. Original sliding loading-bay doors survive. The depot served as a shipping and receiving point for goods such as mining supplies, gold and fruit. In 1905 it was moved piece by piece to the site of the burned passenger depot, and around 1930 it was moved again when the tracks were realigned and a second main line added. Later it was converted into an auto parts store, with interior partitions removed and some openings altered. It is believed to be the only freight depot remaining in Placer County, and it recalls the role of less-than-carload freight in the town's growth between about 1880 and 1945.
Significance in brief: The depot is argued to be locally significant under Criterion A for its link to the railroad and freight industry that drove Colfax's economic development, and under Criterion C as the only example of this Southern Pacific railroad building type in Placer County. It retains integrity of setting, association, design, materials and workmanship to a notable degree.
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 99001564, listed December 17, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Main St., Colfax |
|---|---|
| County | Placer County |
| Listed | December 17, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001564 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1880 - 1945 |
| Architect / builder | Central Pacific Railroad Company |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as an auto parts store; interior and exterior were modified in the 1970s, with changes described as reversible. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.10099, -120.95302 (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 99001564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q47488522
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.