The Sikeston Depot Historical and Cultural Center was established by the Sikeston Cultural Development Corporation, opening its doors in March, 2000. The following is a brief history of this project.
When John Sikes laid out the City of Sikeston in 1860, he planned for the railroad and its Depot to define the downtown, as it remains today. The current Depot was opened for business in 1916.
Changes in economic and transportation needs led to the closing of business activities at the Depot in October, 1985. The building was emptied, the windows boarded up, and the building became completely dormant.
In 1997, concerned citizens met to discuss revitalization of the Depot, forming the Sikeston Cultural Development Corporation (SCDC). The Art Council, Art League, Chamber of Commerce, downtown merchants, and the Visitors and Tourist Bureau joined forces.
In 1998, the SCDC reached an agreement with the railroad, and the School of the Ozarks (the school felt it had a claim to the funds). At this time, the SCDC goals were three-fold: acquire and renovate the Depot, create a business plan for ongoing operations of the Depot, return the facility for community use. In October of that year, the city government accepted the SCDC plan.
Work began on renovation in 1999, with (Harry) Pratt Construction Company responsible for the project.
In March of 2000, the Sikeston Historical and Cultural Center (The Sikeston Depot Museum) opened to the public. The facility contained an historic museum section recounting the most important aspects of area culture, an exhibition hall where rotating and traveling exhibits were displayed, an art gallery featuring artists from areas and disciplines, and a small community room where a video of Sikeston’s history is show.
SCDC was selected to participate in the Missouri Cultural Trust program in 2000, and the Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December, 2000.
In the summer of 2007, further improvements were completed at the Depot, thanks in large part to a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Included in that work were four ornamental light standards, new lighting around the perimeter of the Depot overhang, rebuilding of the loading dock, additional lighting inside the main gallery, and landscaping and fencing of the Caboose area. The Caboose itself was refurbished through the efforts of Dan Jones, one of the Depot’s volunteers.
THE DEPOT MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO MEET AND GREET OUR VISITORS :
Our volunteers usually work about 3 hours per month. If you are interest in becoming a volunteer, please contact us at 573-481-9967 We know you will enjoy it.
