The Niles, Michigan Railroad Station is located at 598 Dey Street.  It opened in 1892 as a Michigan Central Depot.  It was designed by architects Spiers and Rohns.  It is noted for its Richardsonian, Romanesque architecture, brownstone construction and a prominent clock tower manifactured by Howard Brothers of Boston.

     Cultural Note

The depot was used as a filming location for several movies including Only the Lonely, Continental Divide and Midnight Run.

     Architectural Features

Style is Richardsonian,Romanesque (features heavy masonry, broad arches, and complex roof lines) using  rock faced brown sand stone from Carroll, Ohio

     Clock tower

60-65 feet tall with 5 foot in diameter clock face

     Interior

OrIginally included a waiting room with a fireplace, a smoking room, a dining room , stained glass windows, carved oak trim and brass/terra cotta detailing

     Layout

3 main sections; baggage area, central lobby/ dining room, smoking room, circular waiting room.

     Historical Significance

Purpose built to impress travelers to the 1893 Worlds Fair Columbian Exposition

Gardens designed by John Gipner. Featured were green house flower beds, walkways and a fish pond.

Each passenger received a fresh flower earning Niles the nickname, “Garden City”  The greenhouses were removed in 1935.

    Railroad context

The depot served as a major stop on the Michigan Central main line.

     Historic  status

Listed on.the National.Register. of Historic Places in 1972 and the Michigan State Register in 1992

     Renovation

Upgraded in 1988. Received external rehabilitation in 2003.

     Current use

It is an active Amtrak station served by the Wolverine and Blue Water line
.