Railroad Infrastructure
Santa Fe Railroad Depot, Las Vegas, New Mexico.
For a time during the transitional period from railroad stop to mecca (1880–1897), Las Vegas featured a standard depot design of slotted wood planks and timber construction. However, during the late 19th century, Las Vegas lost a portion of its business district on Railroad Avenue to several fires—including the destruction of the Depot Hotel on the early morning of October 13, 1888. These events necessitated a change in building materials and architecture, ushering in a refinement fit for a Spanish aristocrat.
A new style dubbed "Spanish Mission Revival" was applied to the facades of railroad buildings, offering a premium visual experience for train passengers. These structures featured beautiful curved cupolas and brick outer walls, while adobe and wood interiors invoked the region's Spanish and Native heritage alongside modern comforts of the West. The depot was eventually restored to its former beauty by Main Street de Las Vegas as part of a "Great Blocks" plan to promote commerce and business development in the district. It remains in active service as the city's visitor center and continues to see daily passenger service from Amtrak.
Freight Depot
Under Construction
Santa Fe Roundhouse and Foreman's Office
Roundhouses were essential features of most towns with rail service, offering a necessary facility for locomotives to be stored or serviced between operations. Every roundhouse boasted one major feature that remained consistent throughout its service life: the humble turntable. The Santa Fe's original roundhouse in Las Vegas was built of local stone and featured seven bays for locomotives, as well as additional space for expansion. Eventually, early locomotives were dwarfed by impressive passenger engines specializing in long-distance travel. Consequently, shop space, personnel, and tools required upgrades to manage the maintenance of these larger locomotives. In 1916, after decades of loyal service, the original roundhouse was demolished to make way for a new 34-stall roundhouse. This impressive structure is the last original Santa Fe roundhouse in the country, granting it remarkable historic status.