Kelso Depot

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = Kelso railroad depot.jpg | caption = | location = 90942 Kelso Cima Road Kelso, California | coordinates = {{coord|35|0|44|N|115|39|9|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = California#USA | area = | built = 1923 | architect = Los Angeles and Salt Lake R.R. | architecture = Mission Revival & Spanish Colonial Revival architecture | added = August 2, 2001 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref><ref name=weekly>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2019-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf |title=weekly list 20190201 (aggregate list) |publisher=National Park Service |date=2019 }}</ref> | refnum = 01000760 | increase = January 31, 2019 | increase_refnum = 100003401 | increase2 = June 17, 2025 | increase2_refnum = 100011934 }} The '''Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel''' or '''Kelso Depot''', now also the '''Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center''', is located in the Mojave Desert within the National Park Service Mojave National Preserve, on Kelso Cima Road at the junction of Kelbaker Road in Kelso, California, between Baker and Interstate 15 to the north and Interstate 40 to the south.<ref name="NPSintro">{{cite web|url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/mojave/cinder1.html |title=Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark introduction |accessdate=2010-07-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613205414/http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/mojave/cinder1.html |archivedate=2011-06-13 }} accessed 7/11/2010</ref> It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and along with the adjacent ghost town of Kelso, was declared a United States Historic District in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=MOJA&STATE=CA&STRUCTURE=Kelso%20Depot&SORT=&PAGE=2 |title=accessed 7/12/2010 |access-date=2010-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804003715/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=MOJA&STATE=CA&STRUCTURE=Kelso%20Depot&SORT=&PAGE=2 |archive-date=2012-08-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The district was increased twice: in 2019 and 2025.<ref name=weekly/>

As of 2025, the Kelso Depot Visitor Center is closed for renovation.

==History==

===Early years===

The first depot, by the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, opened in 1905. In early 1923 the railroad began construction of the new "Kelso Clubhouse & Restaurant" which opened the next year. The Kelso Depot was built to provide services to passengers and railroad employees, and a water stop for the steam locomotives. It is an example of a surviving mid-1920s era Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture Styled railroad depot with a hotel, restaurant, and gardens in Southern California. It was designed by the firm of John and Donald Parkinson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://utahrails.net/up/up-in-ut-depots.php|title=Union Pacific Utah Depots|first=Don|last=Strack|website=UtahRails.net}}</ref> The facility served interstate passenger and shipping traffic and the transport of ore from local mines, especially the Vulcan Mine. It was an essential element of the 1920s modernization of the Union Pacific Railroad stations to compete with the Santa Fe Railway and its Harvey Houses such as "Casa del Desierto".<ref name="NPSkelso">{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/moja/learn/historyculture/kelso-depot.htm|title=Kelso Depot - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)|first1=Mailing Address: 2701 Barstow Road|last1=Barstow|first2=CA 92311 Phone:252-6100 Contact|last2=Us|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref>

The oasis-like landscape design and overall style and character of this remote station made it a popular gathering place for Union Pacific employees, passengers and local residents. The original gardens with shade from Fremont cottonwoods (''Populus fremontii''), Chinese elms (''Ulmus parvifolia''), and manicured geometric lawns lingered, but did not survive the desert conditions between depot closure and the park's Visitor Center restoration. Only date palms (''Phoenix dactylifera'') survived.<ref name="nrhpinv2"> {{cite web | url = {{NRHP url|id=01000760}} | title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination: Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel | date = June 19, 2000 | author = Harland D. Unrau | publisher = National Park Service | accessdate = 2008-12-30}}</ref>

===Mid-20th century===

The Kelso Depot served as a significant element in the Union Pacific's contributions to the American war effort during World War II. The end of World War II marked the beginning of a long decline in the depot's utility. The sharp decline in the volume of freight traffic and diesel engines replacing steam caused a reduction in services and the need for fewer employees. The Vulcan Mine closed early in 1947, further reducing freight and passenger traffic. A surge of activity occurred with the outbreak of the Korean War in the early 1950s, resulting in a renewal of high traffic levels on the Union Pacific line for several years.

In 1953 and 1957, attempts were made to market the low-grade iron ore stockpiled at the Vulcan Mine. However, higher horse power, second generation diesel-electric locomotives of the 1960s resulted in the further decline in Union Pacific personnel needed at Kelso. This technological change eliminated the need for helper locomotives entirely in 1959. Coupled with the closing of the station agency and cessation of passenger train service to Kelso on August 14, 1964, this development spelled the end of the depot's principal function with the exception of the Lunch Room which remained serving until 1985.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=MOJA&STATE=CA&STRUCTURE=Kelso%20Depot&SORT=&PAGE=2 | title = Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel | work = List of Classified Structures | publisher = National Park Service | accessdate = 2008-12-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120804003715/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/summary.asp?PARK=MOJA&STATE=CA&STRUCTURE=Kelso%20Depot&SORT=&PAGE=2 | archive-date = 2012-08-04 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

=== Late 20th century to present === thumb|right|250px|Restored Kelso Depot restaurant. The Union Pacific proposed the demolition of the then unused depot in 1985. Efforts to preserve the building culminated in its 1992 transfer to the Bureau of Land Management and its East Mojave National Scenic Area.<ref name="NPSkelso"/>

In 1994 the Mojave National Preserve was established, and the depot was transferred to the National Park Service. A historical restoration and adaptive reuse project followed in 2002. The Kelso Depot now serves, since 2005, as the main Visitor Center of the Mojave National Preserve.<ref name=":0"> {{cite web |title=Visitor Centers, Mojave National Preserve |url=https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm |access-date=2025-09-05 |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

The Visitor Center is closed for renovation as of September 2025, with an expected reopening in 2026.<ref name=":0" />

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel}} *[https://home.nps.gov/moja/learn/historyculture/kelso-depot.htm NPS—Mojave National Preserve: Kelso Depot—history and photos] *[http://digital-desert.com/kelso-depot/ie01.html Kelso Depot floor plan and virtual model] *[https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm Official Mojave National Preserve website] — ''homepage''. *{{HABS |survey=CA-2679 |id=ca2325 |title=Union Pacific Railroad Depot, Intersection of Kelbaker and Kelso–Cima Roads, Kelso, San Bernardino County, CA |photos=18 |dwgs=10 |data=3 |cap=1}} *{{HAER |survey=CA-2317 |id=ca4194 |title=Kelso–Cima Road, East of Intersection with Kelbaker Road, Kelso, San Bernardino County, CA |photos=8 |data=4 |cap=2}}

{{Adjacent stations|system=Union Pacific Railroad|line1=Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad|left=Flynn|right=Hayden}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelso Depot, Restaurant And Employees Hotel}} Category:Mojave National Preserve Category:Museums in San Bernardino County, California Category:Railroad museums in California Category:Railway hotels in the United States Category:Railway stations in San Bernardino County, California Category:Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Category:Former railway stations in California Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in California Category:History of the Mojave Desert region Category:History of San Bernardino County, California Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1924 Category:Historic district contributing properties in California Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Bernardino County, California Category:Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in California Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1905 Category:Protected areas of the Mojave Desert Category:John and Donald Parkinson buildings Category:Mission Revival architecture in California Category:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California Category:Former Union Pacific Railroad stations Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1964