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The
Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum is located at the heart of
downtown Stevenson, Alabama, situated between the tracks of two
major railroads. Its mission is to preserve an important part of
railroading history through the display of related artifacts. In
addition, the museum, which also chronicles modern times, displays
hundreds of artifacts from other parts of the area's past to teach
young and old alike. These include artifacts recalling Native
American culture, pioneer life and Civil War events. Of all these
artifacts, the largest, and one of which Stevenson is most proud,
is the historic depot building itself. |
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The
depot, which was built in 1872 and listed in the National Register
of Historic Places, stands on the ruins of Stevenson's first
railroad depot, which was built around 1852 for common use by the
Nashville & Chattanooga and the Memphis & Charleston
Railroads. That original depot was destroyed either during, or
shortly after, the Civil War. Bricks salvaged may have been used
in the building of the present structure.
The
Stevenson
Hotel
was also built in 1872, next to the depot. For nearly a century it
served as a place for railroad passengers to dine when the
trains stopped to reload water and coal. Both these historic structures still play
vital roles in Stevenson's community life.
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