Louisville and Nashville Depot
Also known as: L & N Museum
Why it's listed
This small frame railroad depot in Nashville, Illinois, was built in 1885 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It measures 21 by 50 feet and is covered in weatherboard, with vertical flush boards on the lower wall and gable ends. Inside are a baggage room, a general waiting room, an agent's office with a projecting bay, and a ladies waiting room. Later changes were limited to restroom partitions, added windows and one boarded-up window. Its plain vernacular design reflects a vanishing rural landscape and the functional character of the railroading era. The depot is described as the only restorable example of its type in Washington County and one of five remaining in the railroad's Evansville division. It once served seven passenger trains daily, carried students to school, and was a departure point for local men going to war. A local historical society planned to restore it as a railroad museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is locally and regionally significant as a rare surviving example of vernacular railroad depot architecture. It is the only restorable example in Washington County and one of few remaining in the L&N's Evansville division. It also reflects the role of the railroad in local commerce, communications and passenger transportation.
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 85000496, listed March 1, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 101 E. Railroad St., Nashville |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | March 1, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000496 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition and altered, with a planned restoration and use as a railroad museum; the form marks it unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.34846, -89.38141 (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 85000496.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15242996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.