Keokuk Union Depot

04/25/2025

On April 14, Kira Kruszynski was elected president of the Keokuk Union Depot Foundation, succeeding Janet M. Smith who has served since the inception of the Foundation in 2012. Ms. Kruszynski is Executive Director of Main Street Keokuk. Here is the letter the former and current presidents of the Foundation sent to Depot supporters earlier this month, recognizing the contributions that have made possible the more than $2 million restoration project thus far, and detailing possible additional projects.

04/22/2025

Work on the Depot's waiting room has continued since completion of the main projects (tile floor, radiant heating, rest rooms, chandeliers, exterior masonry, etc.). Restoric LLC, the restoration contractor, fabricated new arch windows for the main entrance and the upriver end of the building. They were installed by Walker Construction. New sconces on the waiting room walls were custom fabricated by Archistoric, of Chicago, and are being installed by volunteers Mike Bliven and Damon Cackley. (Photos by Janet M. Smith)

03/11/2025

The Depot is a favorite event center for the Tri-State area. Here's the list of upcoming events for which people in the community have rented the Depot. (All events are private.) You can rent the Depot for your event by visiting our Rental and Events page and downloading the Rental Agreement: https://www.keokukuniondepot.org/rent_events.html

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Saturday, April 5 — Wedding
Saturday, April 12 — Baby Shower
Friday, April 25 — Formal
Sunday, May 4 — Baby Shower
Saturday, May 10 — Graduation Party
Saturday, May 17 — Graduation Party
Sunday, May 18 — Graduation Party)
Sunday, May 25 — Wedding
Saturday, May 31 — Graduation Party
Saturday, July 19 — Family Reunion
Saturday, July 26 — Birthday Party
Saturday, August 16 — Wedding Reception
Saturday, Septermber 6 — Wedding
Saturday, Septermber 13 — Class Reunion
Saturday, October 11 — Wedding
Saturday, October 18 — 45th Class Reunion

This historic railroad depot, designed by Burnham & Root and erected in 1891, is being restored under the direction of the Keokuk Union Depot Foundation. The Depot celebrated its 125th anniversary in July 2016.

02/08/2025

The 2025 calendar of rental events at the Depot is filling up! Reserve your event now by downloading the Rental Agreement, which contains the information you need. You can find it on the Rental and Events page of our web site:
https://www.keokukuniondepot.org/rent_events.html

These are the scheduled events as of this date (all events are private):

Saturday, February 8, 2025 — Boy Scouts Dinner
Saturday, February 15, 2025 — Celebration of Life
Saturday, February 22, 2025 — Birthday Party
Saturday, April 5, 2025 — Wedding
Saturday, April 12, 2025 — Baby Shower
Saturday, May 3, 2025 — Graduation Party
Saturday, May 10, 2025 — Graduation Party
Saturday, May 17, 2025 — Graduation Party
Sunday, May 18, 2025 — Graduation Party
Sunday, May 25, 2025 — Wedding
Saturday, July 19, 2025 — Family Reunion
Saturday, Septermber 6, 2025 — Wedding
Saturday, October 11, 2025 — Wedding
Saturday, October 18, 2025 — 45th Class Reunion

This historic railroad depot, designed by Burnham & Root and erected in 1891, is being restored under the direction of the Keokuk Union Depot Foundation. The Depot celebrated its 125th anniversary in July 2016.

01/03/2025

Janet M. Smith, President of the Keokuk Union Depot Foundation, has written this letter of thanks and celebration to all who have supported the Depot's restoration project.

12/11/2024

Join us at the Vendor Show at the Keokuk Union Depot on Sunday, December 15 from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. All of the former Depot Gift Shoppe items will be 50% off! We have T-shirts, hats, mugs, CDs, yo-yos and other items. T-shirts are now only $10.00 -- a bargain! We hope to see you there!
These are examples of items formerly sold at the Depot Gift Shoppe. They may or may not be available during the vendor sale.

12/02/2024

Here are two recent donations to the Depot by Archie Hayden of Hannibal, Missouri. The telegraph box was used by people who wanted to send a telegraph via the Depot office. The lantern, used by railway workers, is lettered "St.L.K.&N.W.Ry." The St. Louis, Keokuk & North Western Railway was renamed St. Louis Keokuk & Northwestern Railroad in 1887, and was one of the five railroads that formed the Keokuk Union Depot Company to erect the Depot in 1891. It was absorbed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (Burlington Route) in 1901.

11/29/2024

The Depot is "back in business" for community events! The first non-Depot event since restoration of the waiting room was completed was the Keokuk Art Center's "Festival of Trees" on Saturday, November 23. Photos by Janet M. Smith.

11/19/2024

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE DEPOT:
The Keokuk Art Center will present its "Festival of Trees" on Saturday, November 23, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.
A Christmas Vendor Show is scheduled for the Depot on Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15.

11/19/2024

In connection with the Depot's dedication event on November 9, Tri-States Public Radio produced this excellent feature:

The depot dates back to 1891 and was designed by John Root of the renowned Chicago-based architectural firm Burnham & Root.

11/12/2024

WGEM aired a short feature about the Depot rededication event on November 9.

Organizers said it will be used as a community center for public and private events.

11/12/2024

Photos of the Depot's dedication event on Saturday, November 9, marking the completion of the current phase of restoration, which included re-creation of the original marble floor of the waiting room, installation of reproduction chandeliers, rehabilitation of the waiting room exterior masonry and arch windows, and equipping the rest rooms with period-style fixtures. Also of note was the restoration of the unique "turtle-back" style train shed (trackside canopy) which was completed in 2022.