Missoula Architecture & History - The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot on Higgins Ave.

Missoula has some beautiful buildings in our downtown area, and many have historical signficance as well. One of my favorites is the Northern Pacific Depot building located at the north end of Higgins Avenue.

The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot was built in 1901 by the nationally recognized firm of Reed and Stem of St. Paul, Minnesota. This depot is one of four that the firm designed in Montana. The building is a long, rectangular brick structure with one story wings on the east and west side of the building. It is said to represent a "simplified version of Renaissance Revival Style".*

The exterior of the building is decorated with four urns with the distinctive Norther Pacific symbol of the yin-yang.

Northern Pacific Depot Construction Controversy

The building of the depot was quite controversial at the time and became the topic for dispute between two prominent Missoula families, and eventually the entire community.

The Urlin family donated land to help bring Northern Pacific to Missoula. The family didn't intend for the Depot to be constructed where it is because it would block access to their ranch. However, the Higgins family felt that a depot at the end of Higgins Avenue offered an "appropriate level of grandeur.

The Urlin family protested the construction of the building along with other resident's from Missoula's north side. To emphasize their point, the initial wood frame of the building was burned to the ground by arsonists.

Today, the Norther Pacific Depot is used for office space for local Missoula businesses. It is also the site for the Missoula Farmer's Market that is held on Saturdays during the summer.

In 1955, one of Northern Pacific's Railroad Engines was located on the site and is still there today.

For more information on Missoula, Montana, or it's architecture and history, visit www.YourMT.com - Missoula Architecture & History

*Resource: A Guide to Historic Missoula by Allan James Mathews, 1948