One of the 2006 California Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation was given to the Fresno Public Works Department for its work in rehabilitating the Santa Fe Railway Fresno Depot. The building was used as a Passenger Depot from 1899 to 1966 when the railroad ceased passenger service. Between 1966 and 2005 portions of the building which had been enlarged over its lifetime was used as a communications center for the AT&SF system. As the Railroad decided to move its Communication Operation the City of Fresno sought a plan to reuse the building for the Amtrak Station which was housed in the former Santa Fe Freight Depot located adjacent to the depot.
The exterior was returned to it 1899 appearance. The restoration was a major undertaking as nearly all the second floor windows had been framed in and a three story building directly adjacent to the structure as well as non historic additions had to be demolished. A large clock which had been destroyed in an earlier upgrade was painstakingly recreated from the original building plans. The first floor of the interior was restored and is now used by Amtrak.