Here are three historic facts about the depot that highlight its dramatic past:
The Vanishing Tower Height: When the depot first opened, its clock tower stood a towering 150 feet tall and was designed to be visible from any point in the city. However, the devastating Great Flood of 1921 caused severe structural damage, including a massive crack in the tower. During repairs, architects were forced to lower the tower by 30 feet to its current height of 110 feet to ensure its stability.
A “Union” of Rivals: Before the depot was built, Pueblo was so chaotic that five different railroad companies each operated their own separate train stations in town. The “Union” Depot was specifically named because all five competing companies—including the Denver & Rio Grande and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe—finally agreed to share a single, grand transportation hub.
The Clock with “Baseball Bat” Hands: The depot’s iconic clock was actually built by Seth Thomas in Connecticut in 1880—ten years before the building was even finished. Its bronze hands are a massive three feet long, making them longer than a standard professional baseball bat. For over 30 years, a dedicated keeper named Joe Martellaro had to climb the narrow tower stairs every eight days just to oil and wind the mechanism by hand.
Colorado State University
This article was published by Keith Guerrero on his Facebook page on March 28, 2026