Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.

✓ Unlimited website access 24/7 ✓ Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 ✓ The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill.

Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Checking back? Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again.

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

The canopy, or train shed as it’s also called, is seen lit up at the Keokuk Union Depot after the completion of the restoration of the structure. This is believed to be the only complete example of this design left in the country. Vogel will give a presentation at the depot on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m.

At right, a topside view of the canopy at the Keokuk Union Depot after its complete restoration. The structure, also called a train shed, has been undergoing a restoration for more than a year and is now returned to its former glory.

The canopy, or train shed as it’s also called, is seen lit up at the Keokuk Union Depot after the completion of the restoration of the structure. This is believed to be the only complete example of this design left in the country. Vogel will give a presentation at the depot on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m.

At right, a topside view of the canopy at the Keokuk Union Depot after its complete restoration. The structure, also called a train shed, has been undergoing a restoration for more than a year and is now returned to its former glory.

Between the Keokuk Union Depot and the railroad tracks is the completely restored trackside canopy reflecting its elegant 1891 appearance as designed by renowned Chicago architects Burnham & Root. The canopy has returned to the original color scheme, which blends beautifully with the Depot’s restored tile roof and eaves.

The restoration was overseen by historic preservation consultant and project manager Neal Vogel, Principal of Restoric, LLC, who grew up in Keokuk.

Quincy Industrial Painting of Quincy, Illinois, performed the delicate work of removing decades of rust and multiple layers of paint on the superstructure and underside of the canopy, as well as priming the areas to be painted.

Overall, the original structure of cast iron and corrugated steel was in remarkably good condition. Three of the 11 footings holding the trusses supporting the canopy (also known as a train shed) were damaged beyond repair and had to be reproduced from a mold taken from another footing.

Vogel conducted research indicating that the Depot’s turtleback canopy is the last surviving train shed of its kind and era still intact in the United States. Architectural drawings and pictures exist of similar structures for stations on the Chicago “L” and Illinois Central’s stations on Chicago’s lake front, the Kansas City Union Depot and Detroit’s Fort Street Union Depot, but none remain. His research culminated in a presentation to the Construction History Society of America at its 7th Biennial Conference, giving significant national exposure to the restoration of Keokuk Union Depot. He will present his findings at the depot on Oct. 2 at 3 p.m.

Many local individuals helped with painting the structure, performing welding, and installing period lighting fixtures. These individuals include Jordon Barnes, Damon Cackley, Jay Burton, Matt Eaton, Caleb Atterberg, Colton Atterberg, Woodie Brasil, Eli Riddle, Joe McNally, Jaren Wade, Mark Stanley (welding), and John Symmonds (lighting). All of the industrial epoxy coatings and supplies were purchased through Sherwin Williams in Keokuk, which made great efforts to provide sufficient materials when needed during supply shortages due to the pandemic.

The Keokuk Union Depot Foundation paid for the canopy project with part of the donations made so far by about 200 supporters toward the 2020 Jeffris Family Foundation Challenge Grant Capital Campaign. The recently begun second phase of the $825,000 Jeffris project is restoration of the waiting room exterior masonry, for which the Depot Foundation recently received a $50,000 grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Historical Resource Program. By raising $550,000 by June 30, 2023, the Depot Foundation will earn the award of the $275,000 Jeffris grant. Including the recent state grant, as of August 31, 2022 the Depot Foundation has raised $338,000 toward the Jeffris match. Contributions to the capital campaign may be sent to KUDF, P.O. Box 463, Keokuk, IA 52632.

The waiting room exterior masonry project is proceeding along with restoration of the exterior masonry of the adjacent central tower section, which is the subject of a separate grant to the City of Keokuk by a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. When the exterior masonry is completed, the third and final phase of the current project—restoration of the waiting room interior—will begin.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High near 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Get the latest local and national news.