Milwaukee Road Depot, or as it is now known, The Depot, was originally built in 1879, but that building was replaced in 1899 with a new one. The original had an Italianate architectural style, but the new one, which exists today, was built in the Renaissance Revival style using a design by Charles Frost. Charles Frost was the architect responsible for many train depots across the country during this period. The most notable aspect of the building is a clock tower that rises high above the main structure.

The rail line served by the depot was built in 1864 and was originally called the Minnesota Central Railroad. This company was purchased by the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad in 1867, which changed to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad in 1874. They eventually changed the name to simply Milwaukee Road. It was at this time that the original Milwaukee Road Depot was built.

By 1916 this depot was serving 15 passenger trains per day, with usage peaking in 1920 when 29 trains per day arrived. But in the following years, the use of passenger trains decreased and freight began to use different routes. In 1971, the depot closed permanently as a train station and was practically empty for more than twenty years. Initially, parts of the empty warehouse were converted for use as office space. In 1978 it was entered on the National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service.

In 1998, a renovation project was finally approved and launched. Over the next three years, construction was underway, including the addition of two hotels, a 15,000-square-foot water park, and an indoor ice-skating rink. The space also includes several restaurants and bars, banquet space available for weddings, conferences, other events, and underground parking.

Visit www.TheDepotMinneapolis.com for more information.