Manzanola, Colorado

A Brief History of Manzanola

Manzanola incorporated in 1900, and its history is closely connected with rail transportation in the Arkansas Valley. In 1913, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a red-brick depot that combined passenger and freight services. Waiting rooms and baggage facilities occupied one portion, while a separate freight section handled goods moving to and from local merchants and producers. The building linked everyday travel with the commercial life of the town. In 1976, the depot was donated to Manzanola, beginning another chapter in its community use. Its National Register nomination documents both its transportation role and distinctive railway architecture.