Tri-Cities Railroads/Industrial Buildings Historic Tour

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The Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Passenger Train Station, or the Clinchfield Railroad Station, in Kingsport, was built in 1916 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Constructed from the design of New York architect Clinton McKenzie, the station was no longer in service starting in 1954.

2. George L. Carter Railroad Museum

The George L. Carter Railroad Museum was established in November 2007 on the campus of East Tennessee State University [ETSU] in Johnson City, TN. Displays at the museum feature a variety of model railroading locomotives, rolling stock, structures, railroad memorabilia, and toy trains. The facility showcases three operating layouts--each designed using different scales--that highlight the role of the railroad industry in Southern Appalachian. Volunteers from the Mountain Empire Model Railroader club operate the museum's model railroads and share information about both model railroading and historic railroads near Johnson City.

3. Bristol Railroad Station

The Bristol Railroad Station, previously known as the Bristol Union Railway Station, is located on the edge of Bristol’s Commercial Historic District. While the station initially opened in 1856, the current stone and brick structure was constructed in 1902-1903. After the passenger service was terminated in 1971, the structure stood vacant for several years until being renovated as a shopping mall in the 1980s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as one of the last remaining examples of Norfolk and Western Railroad depots built before World War I as part of a series of system expansions during the era. The building is now used for various public and private events. Its unique structure blends Romanesque and European-style architecture and features a notable hipped-roof pavilion on one end.

4. South Atlantic & Ohio Railroad Station

This three-story brick building was constructed sometime around 1887. Today, the site is one of the contributing properties in Bristol’s Warehouse Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Much of the building’s original structure remains intact today, though the structure itself remains mostly vacant. The building has been utilized by a number of different industrial companies throughout its long history, including, for close to two decades, the South Atlantic and Ohio Railroad Company.

5. Central Warehouse Corporation

The Central Warehouse Corporation building traces its origins back to 1946. Today, the building is the second site included in Bristol’s Warehouse Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The Central Warehouse Corp. building shares its eastern-most wall with the western elevation of the Bristol Builders Supply Company building on the corner of Lee St. and Scott St. On their northern facades, the two buildings appear very similar from a street view, possibly even seeming to be the same building at a glance.

6. Bristol Warehouse Company / Studio Brew

The two-story building with entrances on Scott Street and Moore was constructed around 1910. The building is part of Bristol’s Warehouse Historic District which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. From the time of its construction and for many years after, the building functioned as a distillery on the lower floors and as a roller rink on the upper level. Today, the building is home to Tri-Cities artisan brewery Studio Brew, which is based in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The Bristol location for Studio Brew is the studio's second location in addition to the original in Kingsport.

7. Bristol Builders Supply Company

This building was constructed around 1925 and expanded slightly in 1928. The warehouse is included in the Bristol Warehouse Historic District and was constructed for the Bristol Builders Supply Company. The building's significance and preservation was one of the factors that inspired local leaders to secure an official designation for the city and this district, an effort that concluded in 2012 when the district was added to the National Register.

This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.

Tri-Cities Railroads/Industrial Buildings Historic Tour

Created by Douglas J Harding on September 1st 2019, 7:38:33 pm.

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Description

Railroads and industrial practices have played crucial roles in the creations and developments of many areas in the Tri-Cities region throughout its rich history, and several structures remain intact today as evidence. This tour includes railroad stations, museums, and industrial warehouses in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, which have been present and influential in their communities and cultures for decades.

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Tri-Cities Railroads/Industrial Buildings Historic Tour

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