Independence, MO: 1879 Museum/C&A Depot and Missouri Model Railroad Museum

Original Depot Location: (Satellite, based on the topo map below.)

Current Depot Location: (Satellite)

Model Railroad Museum: (Satellite)

The depot is on the left, and I included a log cabin on the right.

Street View, Aug 2023

Visit Independence, MO posted four photos with the comment:

All aboard! 🚂

When you #VisitIndependence there are historical stops nearly on every street corner - including the Chicago & Alton Depot. This tour brings to life the railway's history.

Here are some of the reasons we love visiting the Depot.

🛤️ Over 1,000 items including vintage train tickets, conductor hats, and whistles

🛤️ Each item has its own unique story

🛤️ Visual representation of life in the early 1900s on every floor

🛤 Model trains in action

There are two floors to explore and the guided tour takes a little more than an hour. You will need to call and schedule at (816) 325-7955.

💡Here's an inside tip: After you visit the Chicago & Alton Depot, head next door to the Missouri Model Railroad Museum. The museum is a great place for kids to learn about railroads and trains.

City of Independence, MO, Government: One of the oldest depots in the state! So much history and fun for visitors and residents alike. 🚂

Cliff Kierstead shared

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John Sands, Jun 2018

John Sands, Jun 2021

John Sands, Jun 2021

 P Princess (皮公主), Jul 2019

As usual, I looked for the location of the depot using a topo map. But I found a storage lot that looked like it was still owned by the railroad. So I switched to using a Google Maps search for the model railroad museum and found it near a MoPac branch. Apparently, the depot had been moved. The timeline on the map above confirms that it was moved. Specifically, on Feb 13, 1996. When I noticed the "Moving" sign in the street view at the top of these notes, I did a Google Maps search for "National Frontier Trails Museum" and found a location several blocks north of the depot. And I noticed that the depot is labeled. "1879 Chicago & Alton RR Depot." I guess the museum moved to another building to get more exhibit space.

1957/58 Independence Quad @ 24,000