Union Pacific Depot

The Union Pacific Depot is a restored 1888–89 railroad station at 402 North Second Street in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, owned by the City of Lawrence and operated by the Parks and Recreation Department. Union Pacific donated the building to the city in 1990 after rail service ended in 1984, and a full restoration completed in March 1996 preserved the original atmosphere of the depot — including its distinctive half-timbered gable, hipped roof, and 75-foot spire — while adapting it for community and private events. Active rail lines run past the building every 12–15 minutes, giving the setting a rare connection to the history it embodies. An outdoor French-themed flower garden, maintained by the Parks and Recreation staff, surrounds the grounds and serves as an additional gathering area. The facility offers two interior event spaces — the Community Room and the Arden Booth Free State Theatre Room — available together as a single rental. The venue is suited for weddings, receptions, reunions, meetings, and educational seminars, accommodating groups of varying sizes in a historically significant setting at the edge of downtown Lawrence.