Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot
Also known as: Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, this two-story depot at 1701 Walnut Street in Murphysboro, Illinois, is made of red smooth-faced brick set on a rock-faced local sandstone base. A projecting west bay and south bay give it a distinctive form, and a hip-roofed canopy shelters the north and west platforms. Inside, the first floor held an agent's office, racially segregated waiting rooms and a baggage room, while the upper floor housed dispatchers and railroad officials. The depot anchored a commercial area known as The Levee and served the region's fruit and produce shipping. It survived the 1925 tornado that destroyed the nearby shops. Bus service began in 1938, passenger trains ended in 1958, and the depot closed in 1977. It is described as the largest depot between St. Louis and Cairo and one of only a few survivors of 22 on that line. A probable architect was local builder Philip N. Frew.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is architecturally unique among surviving depots on the old M & O line and in southern Illinois, making it regionally significant. It is locally significant as a reminder of Murphysboro's turn-of-the-century economic and social life, when the railroad shops employed over 500 people and the depot was a focal point of the community. It is also one of a shrinking number of turn-of-the-century resources downtown.
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 84000317, listed November 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1701 Walnut St., Murphysboro |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | November 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1977 |
| Architect / builder | Philip N. Frew (probable) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed in December 1977 after over 90 years of continuous use; the form lists condition as good and altered, with the Railway Express building's doors and windows boarded up. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.76406, -89.34211 (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 84000317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15712953
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.