The Amarillo Depot isn't just a museum. It's an economic engine, a cultural anchor, and a statement about what Amarillo values.
The Santa Fe Depot property downtown is a culturally rich community asset that has sat vacant long enough. In its heyday, it was the center of cultural life and the essential economic engine in the development of Amarillo.
Its operations provided unique opportunities for women and minorities while serving as a gathering place where the deals that built Amarillo happened. In 2024, the Texas Historical Commission added the Depot to its list of Texas's Most Endangered Places — a recognition that this irreplaceable piece of history demands urgent action.
A world-class attraction supporting the existing downtown ecosystem.
The Amarillo Depot will become an anchor destination that drives foot traffic and tourism revenue to the Civic Center, the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, Hodgetown Stadium, and nearby hotels and restaurants year-round.
It will also create a place where artists of all types can develop their craft while earning a living — from musicians and actors performing on the excursion trains and in the Roundhouse Theater, to chefs and hospitality professionals running the Fred Harvey Eating House.
Preserve the 1910 Santa Fe Depot — now on the Texas Historical Commission's Most Endangered Places list — so future generations can experience it.
Build a place where artists of all types can develop their craft while earning a living and helping attract visitors from all over the world to the Texas Panhandle.
Create a unique experience rooted in this specific community's history, told by the people who know it best. The museum's stories and how they are told should come from the Amarillo community.
Work alongside existing cultural and civic organizations — not in competition, but in partnership — to strengthen Amarillo's identity as a destination for arts, culture, and heritage tourism.
The Amarillo Depot is designed to support and complement existing downtown institutions. We're actively exploring partnerships with civic organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and cultural groups who share our commitment to Amarillo's heritage.
We welcome conversations about collaboration — whether that's event partnerships, educational programs, sponsorships, or shared programming.
. . . and all the people and organizations who inspire us to build something great.
