Southern Railway Passenger Depot

National Register Listing

Street Address:

110 N. Main St., Branchville, SC (Orangeburg County)

Alternate Name:

Branchville Depot; Railroad Junction

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NRHP Nomination

Record Number:

S10817738002

Description and Narrative:

(Branchville Depot) The depot at Branchville is the site of the oldest railroad junction in the United States. The original line coming from Charleston and extending to Hamburg was completed in 1832. At the time, it was the longest line in America, as well as being almost twice as long as any in America. In 1840, a line was extended to Orangeburg establishing Branchville as the first junction in the country. The depot, built in 1877, reflects the important role the railroad played in the development of commerce and transportation in South Carolina during the nineteenth century. The establishment of the railroad provided an efficient route for inland towns to send their cotton and farm products to the coast. The depot was also the site of a speech given by President-elect William Howard Taft in 1909. Several rooms in the main structure of the one-story building have been restored to reflect the 1870s and 1880s. The building is constructed of brick with a stucco finish. The hipped roof is covered with painted tin. Listed in the National Register April 23, 1973.

Period of Significance:

1832

Level of Significance:

State

Area of Significance:

Transportation;Politics/Government;Social History;Commerce;Military

National Register Determination:

listed

Date of Certification:

April 23 1973

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