Southern Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot

Built in 1928-29 to a design by the Southern Pacific Railway's Chief Engineer, this Brownsville depot at 601 E. Madison Street is a one-story, light-colored stucco building with a red clay mission tile roof. Cast stone ornament marks the entrances, cornice, gabled-end parapet and chimney, and the southwest entrance pavilion carries urns, engaged columns and an iron balcony beneath a raised arched parapet. Inside are waiting rooms, a baggage room, tile floors and wainscoting, and stenciled beams. Some open waiting areas have been enclosed, and a long concrete train shed and loading platform were removed. The depot recalls the arrival of Southern Pacific in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, following the first train to Brownsville in November 1927. Railroads served the region's irrigated agriculture and trade tied to Port Brownsville. The building served passengers until 1952, then housed a cotton agency, and the city later explored buying it for re-use. It stands nearly isolated and remains a local landmark.