Southern Railway Passenger Station

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Southern Railway Passenger Station is a historic depot built in 1904 by the North Carolina Railroad. It was designed in the Victorian Tudor style and features a hipped roof, octagonal tower, and two triangular dormers. Its design is typical of train depots built in North Carolina at the time. The station also reflects the important role railroads played in Burlington's development. Today, it is available to rent for weddings and other gatherings. Inside, visitors will see a mural inside depicting the city's history from 1893 to 1993. The site also includes a restored caboose that is available to visitors by appointment and a large amphitheater. Community events, such as free outdoor concerts, are also held at the station.

The North Carolina Railroad (NCR) was established in 1849 and the city of Burlington owes its existence to it. The NCR proposed a route that would stretch in an arch from Goldsboro to Charlotte, with the halfway point passing Alamance County. As a result, the NCR decided to build its repair and maintenance shops in the county at a location near the town of Graham that would eventually become the city of Burlington. The original name for this new community was called Company Shops. The NCR built 57 shop buildings by 1859 including two machine shops, a foundry, a car shed, a Blacksmith shop, and an engine shed. The company also built a two-story hotel, houses for workers and railroad officials, and a passenger and freight station. The community did not really become a town until 1863 when the streets were laid out and plots of land were sold to build houses.

The station built in the late 1850s, which was a wood frame building, fell into a state disrepair and was replaced by another one in 1893. This new station was also built of wood. In 1895, the Southern Railroad (SR) leased the shops from the NCR (another company, the Richmond and Danville Railroad leased the shops beginning in 1871 but went into bankruptcy in 1894). Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the station and the hotel in 1904 (apparently, a disgruntled former hotel employee set the buildings on fire). The present, brick station was built soon after. A notable event occurred in 1912 when Theodore Roosevelt stopped at the station to give a speech during his reelection campaign.

Passenger service continued at the station until 1964 and it was left vacant. The SR planned to demolish it in 1970 but the community started a movement called "Operation Choo Choo" to save the old station. In 1977, the city bought it, moved it back to its original location in 1978 (it had been moved on a few occasions), and proceeded to restore it. It has been operated by the Burlington Recreation and Parks Department ever since.

Holland, Chandler. "Burlington’s Historic Depot has colorful past at several locations." Times-News. April 9, 2018. https://www.thetimesnews.com/entertainmentlife/20180409/burlingtons-historic-depot-has-colorful-past-at-several-locations.

Jacobs, Barry. "Southern Railway Passenger Station (Burlington)." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. May 23, 1980. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/AM0009.pdf. 

Troxler, George W. "Company Shops." NCPedia. 2006. https://www.ncpedia.org/company-shops.