Sedalia's historic Katy Depot at 600 East Third Street, with its elegant Romanesque Revival Style appointments, is just a sample of the bill-of-fare awaiting you as you blaze your way down the trail. Your Stationmasters, the Sedalia Heritage Foundation, are excited to invite you to relax here a while, refresh yourself and enjoy our unique blend of Midwestern hospitality.
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad began operating in Sedalia in 1873. Bradford Lee Gilbert designed the depot which was built of limestone from the nearby Georgetown Quarry, by George Goodlander, and officially opened on May 10, 1896. The popular gathering spot served the community with elegance and charm for more than 60 years. The last passenger train left the Depot in 1958.
The Depot was offered for sale in 1983. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources took title to the building in 1987 as part of the Katy Trail State Park. If you follow the path of the old MKT, you'll see the tracks have been removed and the route converted into a walking and biking trail.
The exterior of the Depot was restored in 1998 to its original beauty and the interior renovation was completed in 2001. The Depot is the home to Sedalia's Welcome Center and proudly features Heritage Exhibits, which opened June 28, 2003. The unique design of the exhibits represents the way railroads influenced the community. Graphic panels, exhibit cases, an audio visual presentation room, and two motion-censored cast characters were added in April of 2004. As you enter the Depot, the gift shop greets visitors with Sedalia souvenirs, and Missouri made products. The Depot is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The grounds around the Depot are home to several art sculptures that symbolize Sedalia's heritage. The "Rag Tag Train" is a whimsical metal train sculpture by Springfield, Missouri artist Christine Shilling. Sedalia artist John Guffin created both the "Step Up Caboose" and the "Syncopated Rhythm Piano" sculptures. The caboose represents Sedalia's railroad heritage with one side designed for the Katy Railroad and the other for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The piano celebrates the ragtime heritage of Sedalia.
