Abilene and Northern Railway Company Depot
Also known as: 5453; Burlington Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Built about 1929 at Locust and South Second streets in downtown Abilene, this one-story brick depot served the Abilene and Northern Railway Company, a locally organized line completed in 1909 to link the city with the Wichita Valley Railroad at Stamford. The line later became part of the Burlington system, and cast stone panels on the front read "Abilene" and "Burlington Route." It replaced an earlier frame depot. The building has a rectangular plan, a flat roof, a small red tile shed roof over a three-sided bay window, and Mission Revival parapets with cast stone coping. Some windows and doors have been replaced, but it keeps much of its integrity. It was recognized for its link to the railroad trade that made Abilene a wholesale and distribution center, and as one of the few local examples of Mission Revival design. It is one of two historic passenger depots in the city and now holds offices.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the railroad industry that made Abilene an important distribution center in West Texas, and it is a good local example of Mission Revival architecture, one of few in the city. It is one of two historic passenger depots in Abilene and retains much of its integrity.
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 92000191, listed May 28, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 189 Locust St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | May 28, 2004 |
| Reference number | 92000191 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1929-1939 |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and moderately altered; no longer a passenger depot, it contains offices. A later letter says a new owner rehabilitated it following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.44741, -99.72954 (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 92000191.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320180
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.