East Ely Passenger Depot

Visible from U.S. 50, this Mission Revival depot and the tall water tower behind it serve as a focal point for East Ely. A number of similarly styled depots from the early twentieth century survive in Nevada, attesting to the popularity of the curvilinear gables derived from Spanish Colonial models. The rectangular, two-story building has a steep hipped roof embellished with central scrolled parapets facing north and south. On each are projecting roundels framing stone letters spelling out “East Ely.” The upper story is stuccoed, whereas the main floor is constructed of rusticated stone quarried in Cherry Creek, about forty-six miles to the north. As a relatively large passenger depot in Nevada, this structure housed men's and women's waiting rooms, the agent's office, and a baggage and express room on the first floor. Railroad offices were located on the second floor. The depot served passenger traffic until 1941; it continued to function as an office building for Kennecott until 1985. In 1990 the state of Nevada acquired the building for use as a museum.