Red Oak station also known as the WWII Memorial Museum, is a historic train depot located in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. The town of Red Oak Junction was incorporated on 28 June 1869, by a vote of its citizens. The first passenger train service to Red Oak Junction was on 12 November 1869. That railroad was acquired by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and they laid out a new right-of-way in southwest Iowa in the late 19th century to lessen the grade.[2] It required a new depot in Red Oak, which was built from 1900 to 1903.

Red Oak
Red Oak station in September 2017.
General information
Location305 South Second Street, Red Oak, Iowa 51566
SystemFormer Burlington Route passenger station
History
Opened1903
Closed1971
Rebuilt2003
Services
Preceding station Burlington Route Following station
Emerson
toward Denver
Main Line Stanton
toward Chicago
Chicago, Burlington Northern and Quincy Depot
Red Oak station is located in Iowa
Red Oak station
Red Oak station is located in the United States
Red Oak station
Location305 S. Second St.
Red Oak, Iowa
Coordinates41°0′8″N 95°13′51″W / 41.00222°N 95.23083°W / 41.00222; -95.23083
Area1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built1903 (1903)
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.99000489[1]
Added to NRHPApril 29, 1999
Location
Map
Volunteers and signage of The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & WWII Memorial Museum, Red Oak, Iowa
Interior view of The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & World War II Memorial Museum, Red Oak, Iowa
National Register of Historic Places plaque, register # 99000489.  The Restored Burlington Nothern Depot & World War Memorial Museum, Red Oak, Iowa
National Register of Historic Places plaque at The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & World War II Memorial Museum, Red Oak, Iowa. Register # 99000489

The single story, red brick structure, Late Victorian architectural style, is located on an embankment alongside the elevated tracks on the south side of town. It is .5-mile (0.80 km) south of where the previous depot was located.[2] Passenger service ended in 1971, and the railroad sought to demolish the depot in 1993. It was donated to the community in 1995, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[1]

The restored Burlington Northern Depot is now home to the WWII Memorial Museum, with exhibits relating to people from Montgomery County, Iowa who served in World War II, as well as country life on the home front on farms, factories, communities and household life. There are also displays and a library about area railroad history. The depot is adjacent to the BNSF Railway mainline between Chicago and Denver.

The museum is OPEN 10 am to 12 noon, Monday through Friday, March through December, and by appointment anytime for docent led and self-guided tours, and for community and social events.

References

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