A westbound passenger train approaching the Perry Depot in 1960. Photo: Ed Wojtas/Rock Island company photographer
This is a summary of the project to preserve the historic Rock Island Railroad Depot in Perry, Arkansas, including links to updates that have been written over the years as what seemed like a long-shot idea has progressed. The structure is now owned by the town, while a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is overseeing its restoration. Every penny donated goes directly toward the preservation effort.
The depot was built in 1918 along the Rock Island’s east-west line through the middle of the country, with passenger trains running between Memphis, Tennessee and Amarillo, Texas. The railroad was vital in the community’s development by providing transportation and the shipment of freight. In the early years of its existence, the depot was the community’s connection to the outside world, with U.S. mail bags being dropped off and picked up here, while Western Union telegrams provided more immediate communications.
The last regular passenger train to pass by the depot was on Nov. 10, 1967, soon after the mail contract was ended. The Rock Island continued to use the depot to coordinate freight service until the railroad was shut down in March 1980. Perry was important as a midway point between Little Rock and Booneville, with decisions made about where trains would meet.
In 2017, it was learned the shortline railroad that currently operates this stretch of former Rock Island track was planning to demolish the century-old depot to expand a locomotive servicing facility. That’s when a group of community leaders and preservationists, including myself, began taking steps to ensure the building would be saved.
Key points about the project
- The restoration is being overseen by the Perry County Rock Island Depot Museum Inc., which was designated by the IRS as a non-profit private charity 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). All donations are fully deductible under IRC Section 170. The nonprofit is run by a six-member board of directors consisting of volunteers who receive no compensation of any kind. All donations made for the restoration are fully deductible under IRS guidelines.
- After being nominated by the state, the Perry Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 8, 2021. This is the Rock Island’s last intact wooden depot along its main east-west artery through the state and is the last depot remaining west of Little Rock. The depot is a fascinating relic of a different era, with segregated waiting rooms and a freight room that is covered in historical graffiti left by former employees.
- The goal of the project is to preserve the depot and turn it into a museum that will tell the history of the community and its connection to the railroad, while also providing a community meeting space for events.
The members of the Perry County Rock Island Depot Museum Inc. Board of Directors are:
- President Buford Suffridge
- Michael Allison
- Perry Mayor Justin Crain
- Michael Hibblen
- Jimmy Middleton
- Tony Roark
After the Rock Island was shut down, the shortline Little Rock & Western Railway was created to continue servicing industries along the track, primarily a paper mill near Perry. Several former Rock Island employees who were familiar with the area were hired by the new railroad, and for its first few years, it was headquartered in the depot. The shortline was eventually acquired by the Genesee & Wyoming, which owns railroads around the world. In 2017, the company said it was going to demolish the depot, which no longer served an active purpose, to expand a locomotive servicing shop.
Knowing the historical importance of the depot, local leaders of the Little Rock & Western contacted preservationists and historians, allowing time for a plan to come together to move the depot. Thanks to monetary donations and in-kind donations of supplies and labor, we were able to hire a house-moving company to place the depot on an adjacent lot where the Rock Island once had a water tower for steam locomotives. The railroad sold the property to the city in 1970 for $500, which continues to use an underground stream where the water tower was located to refill water in its fire trucks.
The Rock Island’s Perry Depot in October 2018 as it was being moved from where it had sat for 100 years. The Little Rock & Western Railway had given an ultimatum that if the depot wasn’t moved, it would be demolished. Photo: Michael Hibblen
Perry County provided material to build up and pack the ground so a cinder block foundation could be constructed to place the depot on. It was built at a height to keep the building dry based on flooding of the Arkansas River that occurred here in 2019. The roof was then replaced to protect the interior of the building. In 2026, we plan to repair the original wooden windows and place the original semaphore train order signal back alongside the telegrapher’s booth.
Here’s the latest update, published on Jan. 24, 2026.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help make our goal a reality, checks can be made payable to Perry County Rock Island Depot Museum Inc and mailed to:
Perry City Hall
P.O. Box 36
Perry, AR 72125
Below are links to previous updates that have been written over the years as the project has progressed. Included are photos from each step of the way, along with many vintage photos that have been shared with us.
Effort To Save Former Rock Island Depot In Perry, Arkansas From Demolition
Challenges Persist in Moving the Former Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas
Agreement Reached to Move and Preserve Former Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas
The Rock Island’s Perry, Arkansas Depot is Moved in Advance of Restoration
State Grant Will Ensure Relocation is Completed for Former Rock Island Depot in Perry, Arkansas
Preparing to Place Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas in New Location
Rock Island Depot in Perry, Arkansas is at New Location, Roof will be the Next Priority
New Roof Completed on Rock Island’s Perry Depot, Historic Designation is Next Goal
Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas is Nominated for Historic Designation
Early in our fundraising, a Go Fund Me campaign was launched in 2018 to raise money to cover the cost of moving the depot. A total of $10,390 was raised through 117 donations. Thanks to everyone who donated through that campaign or by sending a check! After becoming a separate 501(c)(3) in 2025, we’re planning to launch additional campaigns to fund future work.
If you have any questions about the project or can provide additional historical information about the depot, including photos, stories, comments or corrections, write to: michael@hibblenradio.com.
