Como Roundhouse, Railroad Depot and Hotel Complex

The Como Roundhouse, Railroad Depot and Hotel Complex is a collection of historic buildings in Como, Colorado.

Como Roundhouse, Railroad Depot and Hotel Complex
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The roundhouse.
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Location	Off US 285, Como, Colorado
Coordinates	39°19′1″N 105°53′29″W
Area	5 acres (2.0 ha)
Built	1879-1881
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival
NRHP reference No.	83003880 [1]
Added to NRHP	May 20, 1983

History

The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad (DSPPR) reached Como in June 1879. 1881 saw construction of the Como Roundhouse, and is believed to have been built by Italian stonemasons that had settled in the Como area.

The original stone section remains, preservation work was undertaken in the 1980s to the walls and roof.

The Depot was constructed in 1879 and soon after extended to its current L shape. The Depot has been restored and is being used as a seasonal museum.

The first Hotel on the site was the Gilman which opened for business on New Year's Eve 1880.

The Gilman was extended in 1882/3 and then taken over by the Union Pacific's hotel division in 1885. They improved the building, rebuilding and extending it. In November 1896 the building burned to the ground.

Part of the foundations and bricks salvaged from the fire were used in building the new existing hotel. Called the South Park Hotel by the Railroad.

The last train through Como was in April 1937, the tracks were pulled up the following year. Track has now been relaid connecting the Depot and Roundhouse and a locomotive, Klondike Kate now resides in the Roundhouse. [2]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. Como, Hub of the Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad Archived 2007-09-22 at the Wayback Machine. Colorado Preservationist, Spring 2006: 5.

External links

• South Park Rail Society – official website
• Como Depot listing on Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Endangered Places Program
• Historic and modern photos of the buildings at The Narrow Gauge Circle