Katy Depot
Also known as: MKT Railway Passenger Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, known as the Katy, this passenger station stands at the edge of downtown Greenville in Hunt County, Texas. Designed by Brooklyn architect Stephen W. Dodge and built by the St. Louis firm of Thompson & Gray, the long, narrow building has red pressed brick walls, cut sandstone trim, deep eaves over the platform and a pine-beaded interior. It once had a 52-foot brick rotunda over the main waiting room, removed after storm damage in 1950. The railroad's arrival in 1880 ended Greenville's isolation and helped turn the area into a major cotton shipping center. The depot served ordinary travelers, soldiers, celebrities and entertainers until passenger service ended in 1965. Its floor plan also reflects the racial segregation of its public years. Little has changed structurally since a 1920 remodeling apart from the rotunda. Today it hosts seasonal and community events.
Significance in brief: The depot is significant under Criterion A in the area of rail-related transportation at the local level. It was the arrival and departure point for Greenville residents and visitors for nearly 70 years, after the railroad ended the town's isolation and fueled its cotton economy. It retains most of its original materials despite the loss of its distinctive rotunda.
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 96001625, listed January 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3102 Lee St., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Hunt County |
| Listed | January 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 96001625 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Dodge, Stephen W., Brooklyn (architect); Thompson & Gray, St. Louis (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used for commerce, recreation and community events, including a Chamber of Commerce holiday display; the site also has a freight track used by the Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad. Passenger service ended in 1965. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.14039, -96.11235 (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 96001625.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18619236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.