Save the Northfield Depot

The 1888 Milwaukee Road Depot reflects Northfield's unique history, culture, and community.

You and others in the community helped rescue and renovate the last remaining icon of Northfield’s rich railroad history — the 1888 Milwaukee Road Depot, an architectural treasure designated as a local historic site in 2021. Details about the depot’s rich history and recent restoration is documented in text and pictures on our website at northfielddepot.org.

Serving as a community resource

Beginning in 2023, Save the Northfield Depot transitioned from rehabilitation to utilization of the depot. The Northfield Depot is a popular rental venue for a wide variety of community events — ranging from organizational meetings (especially for nonprofits) to public events (concerts, art shows, poetry readings, dance recitals, markets) to private social gatherings (showers, birthday parties, reunions). Those attending events as well as pedestrians going to and from downtown enjoy the garden area sculptures and plantings, and often take advantage of the several benches.

But we need your help to achieve long-term sustainability. Your donations help with general operating expenses and allow us to keep our rental fees low — especially for public events and nonprofits — to remain a useful community resource.

IMPORTANT: Please note that a 6.9% processing fee is subtracted from all GiveMN donations (unless you choose to pay it). Another options is to donate through PayPal, where the fees are slightly lower; no account is needed. Or if you would like your FULL donation to go toward the Depot, please mail a check to Save the Northfield Depot, P.O. Box 486, Northfield, MN 55057.

Our mission & vision

The mission of Save the Northfield Depot is to reuse the renovated 1888 Milwaukee Road Depot as a community gathering place for both public and private events.

The vision of Save the Northfield Depot is to maintain the historical integrity and features of the 1888 Milwaukee Road Depot and to educate the community about its rich history and continued usefulness as a community resource.

We remain committed to:

• Historic Preservation: protecting and preserving a key part of the Northfield heritage and pride of place
• Beautification: assuring the depot is appropriately maintained, free of blight, and a visual asset to the community
• Economic Development: providing a catalyst to the economic development in the city
• Education: educating the current and future generations about the rich history and role of the railroads and the depot in Northfield
• Building Community: providing community gathering places to promote opportunities for social interaction and public events
• Sustainability: reusing existing buildings as a responsible use of our resources