Former Seaboard Airline Railroad Station in Venice FL

Venice Depot, Venice Florida

Date added: May 10, 2025

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The Venice Railroad depot facilities were part of John Nolen's Plan for the City of Venice in 1925. The structure was built in the Mediterranean Revival style that was required by the developers of the plan, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Located on the east side of the intracoastal waterway on Venice Avenue, the depot conforms to the standards imposed by both the city planner and the developer in the completion of commercial and industrial properties.

The Depot is an excellent model of the quality of product that was produced in Venice by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. All the heavy timbering, as well as the smaller lumber, was processed at the local BLE sawmill. (Although the exact whereabouts of the sawmill is unknown, it is known that it was located in the vicinity of the depot for easy access to the railroad line.) In addition, all the hollow clay tile and barrel tile was produced at the tile factory, located in the general vicinity of the depot (specific location is still to be determined.) Constructed at a cost of $47,000, the 400' x 50' station was essential in providing transportation to the City of Venice. In addition, it was located near the waterway to ensure easy transfer of people and cargo between the two systems of transportation. Plans were drawn to also incorporate the Tamiami Trail into the area to provide a terminus of all three methods of transportation available at that time to the community.

Building Description

The Venice Depot, located at 303 East Venice Avenue, is a one story Mediterranean Revival style structure constructed of rough cast stucco over hollow clay tile. Foundation is continuous hollow clay tile and the roofing material is clay barrel tile and rolled composition. The structure is dominated by two arcaded canopies flanking a central mass. The central block is composed of the hip roofed passenger station (waiting area) at the south end, and the flat roofed freight station and loading docks at the north. The passenger station has an arcaded loggia at the south and east elevations. A ticket booth is located under the southern loggia in the passenger area. Entrance to the passenger waiting rooms is located at the west and east elevations. The west elevation, adjacent to the rail lines, contains an arcaded entrance with original, wood double doors and two large ticket windows. Original Italian tiles are intact under the larger, western window. All three bays contain multi-paned semicircular transoms, and hood surrounds. All arches on the passenger section contain hood surrounds and keystones.

Arcading is located at the west elevation in the gabled loading/waiting area and extends past both sections of the structure. Roof trusses on the canopies are exposed and constructed of heavy wood beams. All support columns contain iron corner braces to minimize damage from baggage carts.

The flat roofed freight station contains a flat parapet at the north elevation. Loading bays are both elevated and at the ground level on the east elevation, and elevated at the north elevation. All original doors are intact. A loading spur runs from the main line adjacent to the east elevation providing two avenues for loading and unloading.

The setting of the depot has remained that of a railroad station. Numerous abandoned passenger and commercial cars are on site. To the immediate west is the intracoastal waterway, to the north, the Venice Avenue Bridge, and to the south the Venice Avenue bridge approach. Rail lines are intact at the west elevation.