After the Great Union Pacific Railroad Strike of 1922 ended, the Union Pacific Railroad moved its major division yard facilities from Las Vegas to Caliente in 1923, creating the need for a new and much larger depot building. It was designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm of John and Donald Parkinson, a father and son partnership, in their first major railroad commission. The structure originally included a fifty room hotel on the second floor, with company offices, the station agent's office, two restaurants, and a passenger waiting area downstairs. In 1970-71, the building was given to the city of Caliente for one dollar, and today it serves as City Hall and other city offices. Its design also became the basis for the depot building at Kelso, California.