Ringgold Depot
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Why it's listed
Ringgold Depot is a long, rectangular stone railroad building beside the tracks at U.S. Highway 41 in Ringgold, Georgia. Built around 1849-50 for the state-owned Western and Atlantic Railroad, it measures roughly 33 by 192 feet, with sandstone walls, arched sliding-door openings and a ticket bay window. Stonework was contracted to Garrett V. Margeram. The line linked Atlanta and Chattanooga and opened interior Georgia to commercial traffic, and Ringgold became a busy railroad boomtown. During the Civil War the depot and town saw troop movements, occupation and the Battle of Ringgold in November 1863. Orders were given to burn the town and depot, yet the stone building survived, though damaged and later repaired, while many wooden depots were lost. It is considered one of Georgia's few remaining antebellum depots, built in a plain, functional manner. It continues to serve as a freight depot and remains a focal point of the community.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Georgia's few remaining antebellum depots, built of native stone in a utilitarian style when most depots were wood. It is tied to the Western and Atlantic Railroad's opening of interior Georgia to commerce. It also served as a focus of transportation and military activity during the Civil War, especially the Battle of Ringgold, and survived when many wooden depots were destroyed.
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 78000968, listed November 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 41, Ringgold |
|---|---|
| County | Catoosa County |
| Listed | November 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000968 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Contractor: G.V. Margeram |
| Architectural style | Utilitarian style, not reflecting architectural trends of the day |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a freight depot; passenger service has been discontinued. Condition listed as good and slightly altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 34.91549, -85.10763 (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 78000968.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85797301
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.