Mandan has had two permanent train depots.
The first depot was built in 1882. Fire badly damaged this in 1920. Most of the damage, estimated at roughly $15,000, was contained to its second story. The fire was believed to have been ignited by the sparks of a train engine. Ordinarily, replacing the aging structure would have been likely. However, Northern Pacific was facing strained finances at the time and opted instead to repair the building rather than fully replace it. Another fire further damages the depot in 1927.
The second – today’s historic depot and beanery – was dedicated in February 1930. The new depot was built to the north of its predecessor. Initially, it was to consist of three separate buildings consisting of brick colonial-revival design: separate buildings for the depot, “beanery” lunchroom, and administrative offices. Ultimately, only the depot and beanery were ever built. There are varying accounts as to the background of the depot’s unique colonial architecture. Groundbreaking commenced in August 1929, and it was put into service shortly after the new year. A bronze statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt that stood since July 4, 1924 to the property’s east was relocated to its present-day location immediately north of the depot at that time. It continued operating as a depot until 1979.
Following that, the buildings largely sat vacant for more than a decade. In fall 1982, news circulated that Burlington Northern Railroad was eying to demolish the depot. Public outcry followed, propelled by the Art in the Park Committee. The railroad company put the depot up for sale the following year, instead. To their credit, they insisted that the buyer wouldn’t “change the whole design or anything;” retaining the building’s historic characteristics. Pressure mounted on Burlington Northern to donate the building. Deals fell through, including one with Northwest Development Group, who purchased and renovated the Bismarck depot.
It would take another six years before a favorable lease agreement for the depot site and its buildings with the City of Mandan would be struck: five years for a total cost of five hundred dollars. The city eventually acquired the site. After completing renovations totaling about one hundred thousand dollars, the former depot held a grand re-opening in June 1992. The beanery took a bit longer.
The North Dakota Indian Art Association opened a store and offices inside the re-dedicated depot. Efforts to turn the former depot into a culture and arts center first came to light in 1987. The Five Nations Art center operated there until relocating across the street into the former Lewis and Clark Hotel in 2019.
Today, the site houses Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Mandan Progress Organization, and the Mandan Art Association.
