Initially built as a one-story duplicate from the Seward blueprint, Nenana’s train station opened for freight and passenger service on December 12th, 1922. Not long afterwards, it hosted two of our state’s most significant events.

The first was President Warren G. Harding’s visit by rail on July 15th, 1923, which preceded his golden spike driving ceremony just north of town. Second was Willard (a.k.a. “Wild Bill”) Shannon’s January 28th, 1925 serum run by dog sled to Tolovana, which began a life-saving relay of twenty teams that ended in Nome and, ultimately, inspired today’s Iditarod.

A stairwell and second floor agent’s quarters were added to the building in 1937. Several refurbishments followed, as stone monuments, respectively commemorating the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the Alaska Railroad’s completion, were placed on its east end.

Declared a historic landmark on August 10th, 1977, the depot, eventually, closed and was left vacant for several years until acquired by the City of Nenana. Ever since, it’s been leased as an independently-managed gift shop, hotel and museum.