An Eastern Iowa Landmark is Celebrating its 125th Anniversary This Weekend

The Vinton Train Depot is celebrating a big birthday this weekend! The historic Iowa landmark is turning 125-years-old this year, and the town of Vinton will celebrate its "quasquicentennial" on Saturday!

The History of the Vinton Train Depot

According to the Benton County Historical Society, construction began on the Vinton Train Depot at 612 2nd Avenue back on August 1st of 1899. At the time, the structure cost around $40,000 to build. That's equal to around $1,522,852 in 2025! 

Since its opening in 1900, Wikipedia says that the depot has had several names, including the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Passenger Station-Vinton, Rock Island Depot, and the Vinton Depot. It was built as a replacement for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway. The limestone that was used in the construction was from Postville, Iowa, and the bricks were fired over in Shellsburg. A document from the National Register of Historic Places says that "the floor of the Depot is of marble tile; the woodwork is of white oak with art and plate glass windows and doors. All are original and still in place."

Another historic aspect of the train depot is the hobo signs that remain under the porch. An article from Vinton Today reads:

"Look closely at the small weathered shed and you’ll see the tell-tale signs hobos left to mark the way for those who would follow.  Inscriptions used to communicate the whereabouts of a place to sleep, areas of danger, and where to find food."

The Vinton Train Depot was and was in operation until 1967 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. Today it serves as a museum that is open twice a month during the summer. You can check it out the first and third Saturday of June, July, August and September from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Anniversary Celebration

This Saturday, June 7th, the Vinton Train Depot will open for the first time this summer. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can stop by to learn the history of the building and enjoy live entertainment and food trucks. The Facebook event encourages local Iowans to "bring the whole family and take a step back in time as we honor the legacy of the rails, share stories, and make new memories together."

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READ MORE: A HUGE List of June 2025 Events Across Eastern Iowa