Harrisburg Central Railroad Station and Trainshed
Also known as: Penn Central Railroad Station and Sheds
Why it's listed
Built between 1885 and 1887 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the passenger station in Harrisburg is a brick building of two and one-half stories with a gable roof, originally about 166 feet long and 60 feet wide. Its interior held gentlemen's and ladies' waiting rooms, a restaurant and a ticket office. Fire in 1904 gutted much of the building, and it was rebuilt with a third story and a gambrel roof, and later extended on both ends in 1911 and 1937. Two train sheds stand behind it, the first begun in 1885 and later lengthened to about 540 feet. Their steel and timber trusses are of the Fink type, a form derived from an inverted kings-post truss, and the nomination treats them as rare survivors of their kind. The station and sheds are cited as the most important remaining reminders of Harrisburg's years as a major stop on the Main Line.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the station is the most important of the few remaining structures from the years when Harrisburg was a major stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Main Line. The train sheds are described as among the largest of their period when built and among the few still existing, and their Fink roof trusses are considered rare, particularly for the use of wooden members combined with steel.
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 75001638, listed June 11, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Aberdeen St., Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | June 11, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001638 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885-1887 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered over time, with the station severely damaged by fire in 1904 and completely remodeled; the form rates its condition as fair. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 40.26207, -76.87770 (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 75001638.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5665326
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.