Kelso Depot

	Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. Historic district
	Mission Revival & Spanish Colonial Revival architecture
NRHP reference No.	01000760 (original); 100003401 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 2, 2001
Boundary increase	January 31, 2019

The Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel or Kelso Depot, now also the Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center, is located in the

United States Historic District in 2000.^[4] The district was increased by a boundary increase approved by the National Park Service in 2019, with reference number 100003401.^[2]

History

Early years

The first depot, by the

Casa del Desierto".^[6]

The

date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) survived.^[7]

The Kelso Depot served as a significant element in the Union Pacific's contributions to the American war effort during World War II. The end of World War II marked the beginning of a long decline in the depot's utility. The sharp decline in the volume of freight traffic and diesel engines replacing steam caused a reduction in services and the need for fewer employees. The Vulcan Mine closed early in 1947, further reducing freight and passenger traffic. A surge of activity occurred with the outbreak of the Korean War in the early 1950s, resulting in a renewal of high traffic levels on the Union Pacific line for several years.

In 1953 and 1957, attempts were made to market the low-grade iron ore stockpiled at the Vulcan Mine. However, higher horse power, second generation diesel-electric locomotives of the 1960s resulted in the further decline in Union Pacific personnel needed at Kelso. This technological change eliminated the need for helper locomotives entirely in 1959. Coupled with the closing of the station agency and cessation of passenger train service to Kelso on August 14, 1964, this development spelled the end of the depot's principal function with the exception of the Lunch Room which remained serving until 1985.^[8]

Restoration and Visitor Center

The Union Pacific proposed the demolition of the then unused depot in 1985. Efforts to preserve the building culminated in its 1992 transfer to the Bureau of Land Management and its East Mojave National Scenic Area.^[6]

In 1994 the Mojave National Preserve was established, and the depot was transferred to the National Park Service. A historical restoration and adaptive reuse project followed in 2002. The Kelso Depot now serves, since 2005, as the main Visitor Center of the Mojave National Preserve.^[9]

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
^ ^a ^b "weekly list 20190201 (aggregate list)". National Park Service. 2019.
^ "Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark introduction". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2010. accessed 7/11/2010
^ "accessed 7/12/2010". Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ Strack, Don. "Union Pacific Utah Depots". UtahRails.net.
^ ^a ^b Barstow, Mailing Address: 2701 Barstow Road; Us, CA 92311 Phone:252-6100 Contact. "Kelso Depot - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Harland D. Unrau (June 19, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination: Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
^ "Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
^ "Visitor Centers, Mojave National Preserve". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.

External links

NPS—Mojave National Preserve: Kelso Depot—history and photos
Kelso Depot floor plan and virtual model
Official Mojave National Preserve website — homepage.
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. CA-2679, "Union Pacific Railroad Depot, Intersection of Kelbaker and Kelso–Cima Roads, Kelso, San Bernardino County, CA", 18 photos, 10 measured drawings, 3 data pages, 1 photo caption page
Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CA-2317, "Kelso–Cima Road, East of Intersection with Kelbaker Road, Kelso, San Bernardino County, CA", 8 photos, 4 data pages, 2 photo caption pages

Preceding station	Union Pacific Railroad			Following station
Flynn toward Los Angeles		Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad		Hayden toward Salt Lake City

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.

[weekly-2] "weekly list 20190201 (aggregate list)". National Park Service. 2019.

[NPSintro-3] "Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark introduction". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2010. accessed 7/11/2010

[4] "accessed 7/12/2010". Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[5] Strack, Don. "Union Pacific Utah Depots". UtahRails.net.

[NPSkelso-6] Barstow, Mailing Address: 2701 Barstow Road; Us, CA 92311 Phone:252-6100 Contact. "Kelso Depot - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[nrhpinv2-7] Harland D. Unrau (June 19, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination: Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.

[8] "Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2008.

[9] "Visitor Centers, Mojave National Preserve". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.

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