The first train arrived in Washington, Missouri, in 1855, confirming the town's position as the major transportation center in Franklin County. Washington's first railroad depot was destroyed in a Civil War raid on October 2, 1864. In 1865 the present frame Missouri Pacific depot was built just west of the foot of Elm Street. For 58 years, from the close of the Civil War until a more modern brick depot replaced it in 1923, the frame depot served as Washington's transportation center. One half of the building contained separate waiting rooms for men and women, while the other half handled baggage and freight. When Missouri Pacific began building the brick depot, the frame depot was moved from the west edge of Elm Street to its present location at the foot of Cedar Street on the north side of Front Street and was converted to use as the freight depot. Ownership of the depot buildings passed from Union Pacific Systems to the City of Washington in 1985, and renovation of the freight depot proceeded in cooperation with the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce. The 1865 Missouri Pacific depot is the oldest depot building still remaining on an active rail line in Missouri.