1879 Chicago & Alton RR Depot — Attraction in Independence

Virgil Atchley and Gladys Quinn Atchley lived in this Depot during the twenties and thirties. Gladys played both organ and piano to delight the passengers waiting on the trains. She was a very accomplished musician and enjoyed ragtime and the popular American tunes of that day. Virgil was a brakeman, later an electrician for the railroads. Later Virgil became a city councilman in Independence, Mo. They were my paternal grandparents. My second cousin Lawrence Wiebusch was instrumental in saving this depot starting...

When we went on a Thursday it wasn't too crowded. My husband and I got a ton of information from a volunteer named Mitch. So much history around these trains. The actual building was really awesome and it's historic. Plus lots of displays and objects inside that made me think about the everyday maintenance of the trains and how they traveled before we had cars...

The volunteer giving the free tour of the train Depot was very friendly and knowledgeable. Wished we had more time to finish the tour and the upstairs living quarters.The depot is beautifully restored and the artifacts on display truly tell how train life was in the past. This is a must stop and see while you are visiting the National Frontier Trails...