Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities
Also known as: See Also:70000199; 76000610
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Why it's listed
Railroad facilities in Savannah, Georgia, include a brick passenger depot headhouse and a long timber-and-iron trainshed built for the Central of Georgia Railroad. The company, organized in 1833, outgrew its original facilities and planned an integrated complex of passenger and freight depots and shops for building and repairing locomotives and cars. Work on the two-story, nine-bay headhouse began in 1860, stalled during the Civil War, and resumed in 1874, with the building opening in 1876. The trainshed, finished in 1861, was designed by Augustus Schwaab, a German immigrant engineer. Its 26 trusses span 70 feet and combine wood, wrought iron and cast iron, joined by an unusual radial connection more typical of French and German practice. The complex is considered among the earliest comprehensive railroad terminal and shop campuses in the country, and the trainshed is the oldest surviving example of early iron roof construction. The depot was later renovated and houses a chamber of commerce.
Significance in brief: The complex is described as one of the earliest attempts in the country to build a comprehensive railroad terminal and shop complex. Its trainshed is called the oldest remaining example of early iron roof construction, using rare tricomposite trusses of wood, wrought iron and cast iron. The depot's construction was also interrupted by the Civil War.
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 78000970, listed June 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Broad St. and Railroad Ave., Savannah |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | June 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000970 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1860-1876 |
| Architect / builder | Augustus Schwaab |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 2, 1978 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Correspondence from 1977-78 states the depot was renovated by 1975 and now houses the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and the trainshed was renovated in 1977 with a new roof. The classification section also marks the broader complex as abandoned but protected. |
| Acreage | 33.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.07556, -81.10357 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 78000970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5062129
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.