1927 Historic Venice Train Depot

1927 Historic Venice Train Depot The Historic Venice Train Depot is the only surviving passenger station in Sarasota County, Florida. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1903, a subsidiary of the Seaboard Air Line Railway brought the first train into what is now Sarasota County. In 1911, the tracks were extended 16.5 miles south at the request of Bertha Honoré Palmer, a Chicago businesswoman who was a major landholder in the area. Palmer named the new terminal Venice. The original train stop and sidings were located near the current corner of St. Augustine Aven

ue and Tampa Avenue West. In 1925, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) purchased land to develop the City of Venice according to a plan drafted by city planner John Nolen. The BLE recognized that a new depot would be essential for importing materials and attracting potential land buyers and visitors to Venice. Completed in 1927 at the height of Venice's early development, the new Depot was the last structure built before the BLE closed operations in Venice in 1928. Designed by the architectural firm of Walker & Gillette, the Depot is historically and architecturally significant. Built as a racially segregated building with two waiting rooms, it was 50 feet wide and 400 feet long. The Depot's architecture embodies the Mediterranean Revival style planned for the City of Venice. When opened on March 27, 1927, the Depot heralded as the finest station on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The last passenger train departed from the Depot in 1971, but freight traffic continued until 1997. The Depot building closed in 1975, and it subsequently fell into disrepair and decline. Sarasota County purchased the structure in 1999 and renovated it in 2002-2003. Dedicated on October 24, 2003, the restored Depot stands as a magnificent representation of the architecture of early Venice. The renovation added 40 feet on the south side of the building, and the additional space accommodates the Sarasota County Area Transit (S**T) bus system hub at the Depot.

Thanks to Amy & Dan for delivering the boxes to the caboose. When all else fails, follow the instructions...
04/22/2026

Thanks to Amy & Dan for delivering the boxes to the caboose. When all else fails, follow the instructions...

Special things will be happening at the Depot Campus! A delivery was made and the items will eventually find their way ...
04/20/2026

Special things will be happening at the Depot Campus! A delivery was made and the items will eventually find their way to the newly renovated caboose! Any guesses!?!

PSA: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Les Standiford will not be our guest lecturer on April 21st. Chuck Sidlow will b...
04/19/2026

PSA: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Les Standiford will not be our guest lecturer on April 21st. Chuck Sidlow will be stepping in to present, "The World of ChuckO."

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first day of the GIVING CHALLENGE! We had an incredible day at Sharky's. ...
04/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first day of the GIVING CHALLENGE! We had an incredible day at Sharky's. There is still time, until noon Thursday, April 16th, to have your $25 to $100 donation matched by the Patterson Foundation. Thank you for your continued support. Please scan the QR code to be directed to the donation site.

We are so excited for the Giving Challenge - one week to go!
04/08/2026

We are so excited for the Giving Challenge - one week to go!

Thank you to the Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation for its recent $5,000 grant award to VAHS for the purchase of d...
03/17/2026

Thank you to the Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation for its recent $5,000 grant award to VAHS for the purchase of display cases and the creation of informational panels for the Caboose Renovation Project. Frank Wright and Brenda Holland are pictured accepting the check from its members.

We hope to see you on Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:30 am at the William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Library.
03/02/2026

We hope to see you on Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:30 am at the William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Library.

03/02/2026

PSA: Please be advised, tours will not be provided at the Depot Campus on Wednesday, March 11th due to the annual VAHS Spring Fling Luncheon. We want to provide our volunteer docents with the opportunity to attend the luncheon. Tours will resume on Saturday, March 14th. Thank you for your understanding.

Joan stopped by today and took a selfie with Sunrise Stanley!
02/25/2026

Joan stopped by today and took a selfie with Sunrise Stanley!

Recently, Mark Gebel brought in members from the Flying Caballeros, who were in town to see the premiere of the new Circ...
02/15/2026

Recently, Mark Gebel brought in members from the Flying Caballeros, who were in town to see the premiere of the new Circus Sarasota production at Nathan Benderson Park.

The Flying Caballeros, an eighth generation flying trapeze act, won the Golden Clown Award at the 2025 Monte Carlo Circus Festival. This group lives in California and owns Circus Caballeros, with three troupes that perform exclusively in that state. Mark brought the family to the Circus Car Museum to show them the exhibits.

Address

303 E Venice Avenue
Venice, FL
34285

Opening Hours

10am - 1pm

Telephone

+19414120151

Website

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