The Denver & New Orleans Railroad was established in 1881 with the intention of extending south from Denver and ultimately connecting with railroads in Texas to create a link to New Orleans. Construction of the line reached Elizabeth in 1882, and shortly afterward this section house was built to house railroad employees. It originally faced the railroad tracks to the east, while the area now known as Main Street passed by its back door. The Elizabeth section house is representative of the design used by the Denver & New Orleans Railroad at other locations, including Parker, Elbert, and Eastonville, and it is the only surviving section house from this line. After the railroad declined, the building served for many years as a private residence. In 2002, the Prairie Development Corporation purchased it and, with help from a Colorado State Historical Fund grant, restored it to its original appearance while stabilizing it on a new foundation, with the goal of selling it for commercial use. Its original structural integrity is protected by a historic easement.