Venice Depot - Venice, FL
Posted by: rogueblack
N 27° 06.039 W 082° 26.406
17R E 357238 N 2998400
Currently a bus station, the Venice Train Depot has been restored to honour and educate the rich and vital history it played in the development of the area.
Waymark Code: WM4ZKB
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2008
Views: 13
There is a historical marker placed by the Sarasota County Historical Commission on the property to explain the historical significance of the train depot to visitors.
This Mediterranean Revival style depot was constructed in 1927 after the tracks were moved into Venice to serve its industrial section. The depot served for primary transportation for the Kentucky Military Institute in the 1930's, the U.S. Army during World War II, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after its move to Venice in 1960.
The depot met its demise in the 1970's when Amtrack assumed all passenger travel. After an extended negotiation, Sarasota County acquired the depot and began renovating it. The renovated depot was dedicated by Sarasota County officials on October 24, 2003. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers [BLE] executive committee returned to Venice in March 2004 to rededicate the train depot, which the company had originally built and dedicated in March 1927.
Today, the train depot is operated by Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department, and it is a transfer station for the Sarasota County Area Transit [SCAT] bus system. The Venice Area Historical Society created a Depot Docent program in November 2003 and currently gives tours of the Historic Train Depot every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, November to May. Visitors can stop by anytime to stroll the exterior grounds of the depot, or call (941)412-0151 for guided group tour reservations.
The records for the National Register of Historical Places is not up-to-date so fields pertaining to current use information have been updated based on information obtained from GulfCoastLivingOnline.com (
visit link) and the Venice Area Historical Society (
visit link)