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Constructed in 1907 by the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, this Passenger Depot stands as a reminder of Dothan’s early growth and success as the center of the Wiregrass Region. The station was built during a period of economic growth and this structure replaced a smaller depot that was constructed shortly after the Atlantic Coastline Railroad first arrived in Dothan in 1889. Dothan was incorporated in 1890 with 247 residents, but the town grew quickly in part due to the railroad which connected Dothan to Montgomery Alabama, Tallahassee Florida, and Thomasville Georgia. By 1900, the population in Dothan had grown to 3,275 residents and by 1910 the town was home to 7,106. The depot served passengers until 1979 when the last passenger train departed from this station. The railroad used the building as an office until 1985 and four years later, the City of Dothan to prevent the historic building to preserve the structure. The former depot is now the headquarters of the Wiregrass Transit Authority. On December 13th, 1993 the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in 2008 a historical marker was added near the building by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, Dothan Landmarks Foundation, and the Wiregrass Transit Authority.

The Dothan Atlantic Coastline Railroad Passenger Depot as it appeared in June 1993

Building, Architecture, House, History

When the Atlantic Coastline Passenger Station was constructed in 1907 by the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, Dothan had already undergone a massive population increase. The railroad had already been in Dothan since 1889, causing a boom in economic and social activity in Dothan. Before this depot was constructed there was previously a smaller freight and passenger station that serviced Dothan and helped it see a massive increase from 247 residents in 1890 to 3,275 residents in 1900. With the increase in population and demand for railway access, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad constructed this passenger station, connecting the town to Montgomery Alabama, Tallahassee Florida, and Thomasville Georgia. Thanks to the established station in Dothan, the city became the central economic hub of the Wiregrass region, making it the largest city between Montgomery and Tallahassee with a population of 7,106 by 1910. 

During the 1960s the waiting rooms within the depot were rearranged to comply with Segregation. Previously there were two waiting rooms, one for whites and one for Blacks. After complying with Segregation, the white waiting room on the east end of the building became the common waiting room, while the Black waiting room on the western end became a freight room. 

The depot continued to see passenger use until 1979 when the final train departed Dothan and the station was closed to passenger traffic. The Atlantic Coastline Railroad continued to use the building as an office until the building closed in 1985. Eventually, in 1989, the building was purchased by the City of Dothan to prevent its destruction. On December 13th, 1993 the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2007 the building was renovated by the Wiregrass Transit Authority to serve as its new headquarters. In 2008 a historical marker was placed near the building by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, Dothan Landmarks Foundation, and the Wiregrass Transit Authority.

Dollar, John M. . Atlantic Coastline Railroad Passenger Depot, National Register of Historic Places. December 13th 1993. Accessed November 23rd 2020. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77836220.

Hilton, Mark. Atlantic Coastline Passenger Station, Historical Marker Database. May 2nd 2014. Accessed November 23rd 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=73357.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Image sourced from: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77836220