National Register of Historic Places

Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot

Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon
Listed
August 4, 1999
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
99000950

About this property

The Ontario station is a former train station located in Ontario, Oregon, United States that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot. It was constructed in 1907 by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) for its subsidiary, the Oregon Short Line Railroad (OSL), to replace an 1885 OSL depot that had been located just to the south and had been a simple wood-frame structure. The building is made of concrete block cast to imitate stone, and with red brick trim and other ornamental features. The City of Ontario purchased the building from UP in 1996, but as of 1999 the land remained owned by UP and was being leased to the city. The station was added to the NRHP in 1999. During the station's active years, campaigning politicians sometimes made whistle-stops at the station to give speeches, among them being Harry Truman and Richard Nixon. Senator Robert F. Kennedy passed through just four days before his death. Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) began service to the station in 1977 with the Pioneer, which originally provided service between Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington, but was eventually extended further east and provided daily service from Chicago, Illinois to Seattle. The next eastbound stop on the Pioneer was in Nampa, Idaho and the next westbound station was in Baker City, Oregon.

Location

300 Depot Lane
Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon
44.02368, -116.96256

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Blackaby, James Rowley and Mary J., House
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0.3 mi
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Vinsonhaler Blacksmith Shop
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10.3 mi
Hotel Western
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10.3 mi
Thompson, Al and Son's, Feed and Seed Company
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10.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot listed on the National Register?

Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1999.

What type of historic resource is Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot?

Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot?

The period of significance for Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot?

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