Built in 1869, the Coyote Depot has been relocated to History Park in San Jose to become a permanent museum exhibit.
Evidence indicates that the Coyote passenger depot was built in 1869. If it was, it is the oldest remaining structure built by the Southern Pacific Railroad under that name (rather than by a predecessor company).
07/28/2024
Nice video on the depot’s relocation to History Park.
Moving The Southern Pacific Coyote Depot Depot was built in the late 1800s on what would become the Southern Pacific's Coast Line...
05/29/2024
The elevated status of Coyote Depot provides a unique opportunity to perform architectural archeology. In addition to the square nails and old growth redwood planks, we found a couple of large bolts adjacent to a floor hole leading up into the bay window of the ticket office. The bay window is the most recently constructed portion (1890) of the depot. The hardware and hole was related to operating a semaphore alongside the tracks just outside the bay window.
The King City depot has a similar arrangement.
Anybody know of a semaphore available for a museum display?
05/28/2024
Over the weekend, I was able to visit the King City train depot, now located in a nearby county park. Although newer (1886) and significantly larger than the Coyote Depot, its interior has many similar characteristics, providing inspiration what can be done at History San Jose.
05/21/2024
August 2017 - Roark Diters, aka "the Coyote Kid", photographed an excavator parked next to the depot. The excavator crew had just finished demolishing the nearby freight warehouse. Concerned the 1869 Coyote Depot would be next, Roark contacted several in the community, including myself, in an attempt to save the structure from destruction.
In the intervening year, our effort to preserve the depot became a challenge with many ups and downs. How was this going to happen? How to get funding for a move? Where could it be moved? All the while, Roark frequently passed the depot and kept me informed of its status. Our mutual concern, a fire would destroy the abandoned building before getting to a permanent home.
Today, May 20, 2024 - Roark and I stand next to the recently moved depot at History San Jose. We can safely say that we have reached our first goal...the 155 year old structure is now preserved in a museum setting. Our next goal...RESTORATION!
05/20/2024
This morning, the mover returned to rotate the Coyote Depot over its foundation at History San Jose. It was interesting how precise they were to locate the structure. The building will be left five feet in the air to provide space for construction of the foundation. Fundraising is now required!
05/18/2024
The Coyote Depot move is not yet complete. The mover is returning Monday to rotate the structure 180 degrees and place it over its future foundation location at History San Jose.
05/18/2024
Coyote Depot’s final couple hundred feet move into History San Jose took longer than the initial 10 miles. Clearances were very tight between the overhead trolley wire, the trolley track, and the gap in the fence line.
05/18/2024
This morning’s move of the Coyote Depot went smooth…and quick! The 11 mile journey to History San Jose took about 45 minutes.
05/18/2024
In preparation of its move tomorrow morning, the Coyote Depot received a minor facelift this afternoon…the return of its COYOTE sign! The mover anticipates a smooth journey northbound on Monterey Highway and expects to arrive at History San Jose as early as 7:30.