Rock Island Lines Passenger Station
Also known as: Rock Island Lines Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at 5th Avenue and 31st Street in Rock Island, this one-story brick depot served the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. Chicago architects Frost & Granger designed it, and local contractor John Volk built it for $75,000. The building measures 135 by 40 feet and combines several styles into a Neo-Renaissance Revival form, with a rusticated granite base, arched windows and entrances, decorative brickwork, and a hipped roof. Inside, a marble-floored waiting room has a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace. The station was the regional operations headquarters, while the Moline and Davenport stations were only stopping points. It was the focal point of the railroad's 1952 centennial celebration. Passenger service ended in 1979, and the depot was closed and boarded up in April 1980. The nomination presents it as the oldest surviving Rock Island Lines station in the Quad-Cities and a remnant of the first rail terminal west of Chicago, which made Rock Island a hub for people and freight.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is significant for its role in the growth of Rock Island, the Quad-Cities and the westward expansion of the railroad. It is the oldest remaining Rock Island Lines station in the Quad-Cities and served as the regional operations headquarters. It is also described as the last significant structure from the railroad's prosperous period.
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 82002596, listed June 3, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3029 5th Ave., Rock Island |
|---|---|
| County | Rock Island County |
| Listed | June 3, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002596 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific date ca. 1901) |
| Architect / builder | John Volk (Builder)/Frost & Granger (Architect) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival or Neo-Renaissance Revival, blending several styles |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Economics, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned and boarded up since April 1, 1980; windows broken, paneling torn out, and weeds around the building, though structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.50817, -90.55578 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82002596.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7354514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.