Texas and New Orleans Railroad Depot
Also known as: Site No. 614
Why it's listed
Built around 1915 on North Sunset Street in Wharton, this one-story brick depot served the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. Its Mission-inspired design includes buff brick walls, a darker brick band beneath the window sills, and a broad hipped roof with deep eaves carried on heavy timber brackets. The building has two parts: a passenger section with offices and waiting rooms under a higher roof, and a freight section under a lower one. Rail service reached Wharton in 1881, and the line later passed to the Texas and New Orleans and then the Southern Pacific system. Service ended around 1989. The depot was listed for its role in the town's community development between 1875 and 1942 and for its architecture. It has had few alterations and keeps a high degree of integrity. Although vacant, it is one of two remaining resources tied to the railroad in Wharton and one of few local buildings reflecting Mission style influence.
Significance in brief: The depot is presented as a noteworthy example of commercial architecture and an important symbol of how railroads shaped Wharton. It is nearly unaltered, is one of two surviving resources tied to the railroad, and is one of few Wharton buildings showing Mission style influence.
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 93000119, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 block of N. Sunset, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000119 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1915 - 1942 |
| Architectural style | 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and not in use; windows are covered with plywood. Rail service to Wharton ended around 1989. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31321, -96.10614 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 93000119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318104
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.