Fort Madison, IA (FMD)

Fort Madison Station – Historic Santa Fe Depot (FMD)

Address: 810 10th Street, Suite 1, Fort Madison, IA 52627
Annual ticket revenue (FY 2024): $617,516
Annual station ridership (FY 2024): 4,989

Ownership & Route Information

Property	Owner
Facility	City of Fort Madison
Parking lot	City of Fort Madison
Platform	BNSF Railway
Tracks	BNSF Railway
Route served	Southwest Chief (via Amtrak Deals)

Station History & Overview

Fort Madison began as a U.S. military post in 1808. Over time, it evolved into a key rail hub when the Santa Fe Railway built a bridge across the Mississippi River. In December 2021, Amtrak relocated its station to the downtown historic Santa Fe depot on the waterfront.

Originally, the depot complex included buildings constructed between 1888 and 1910. The main passenger building opened in 1910 to replace a wooden structure from 1888. It was designed by Santa Fe’s Chief Engineer C.F. Morse and built in dark red brick using the railroad’s “county-seat” model design—the only such passenger stop in Iowa for the Santa Fe.

Architectural features include: local Appanoose stone trim, low horizontal form with a central tower overlooking the tracks, arched doorways and windows, deep overhanging eaves, and red clay tile roofing. In 1945, the interior was modernised in an Art Deco style.

In 1968 the Santa Fe moved into a newer small building; the original station complex was sold to the city for $1 and leased to the North Lee County Historical Society for a museum. Restoration to serve Amtrak and the museum began in 2006 and concluded in 2021. The building was lifted and placed on a new concrete base to safeguard against Mississippi flood risk. The project cost approximately $4.5 million and was funded through various federal, state and local grants.

In 2022, Fort Madison was named an “All-Star Community” by the Iowa League of Cities for its innovative station rehabilitation.

Station Building (with waiting room)

Features

Restrooms – ✅
Ticket sales office – ✅
Arrive at least 45 minutes prior to departure if checking baggage or need passenger assistance
Arrive at least 30 minutes prior if no baggage check or assistance needed
No ATM
No elevator
No payphones
No Quik-Trak kiosks
No vending machines
No WiFi

Baggage Services

Checked baggage service – ✅
Checked baggage storage – ✅
Amtrak Express shipping – not available
Bike boxes / ski bags / shipping boxes – not available
Baggage carts – not available

Parking

Same-day parking – free
Overnight parking – free
Accessible parking – free (same-day & overnight)

Accessibility

Accessible platform – ✅
Accessible restrooms – ✅
Accessible ticket office – ✅
Accessible waiting room – ✅
Wheelchair available – ✅
Wheelchair lift available – ✅
No high platform

Station Hours

Service	Hours
Waiting Room	Monday to Friday: 10 :00 am–1 :00 pm & 4 :30 pm–7 :15 pm Saturday & Sunday: 10 :00 am–1 :00 pm & 4 :30 pm–7 :15 pm
Ticket Office	Monday to Friday: 10 :00 am–1 :00 pm & 4 :30 pm–7 :15 pm Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Passenger Assistance	Same hours as Ticket Office
Checked Baggage Service	Same hours as Ticket Office
Parking	Operating continuously (free)
Quik-Trak Kiosk	Not available
Lounge	Not available
Amtrak Express	Not available

Why This Station Matters

The station highlights the heritage of the Santa Fe Railway and rail travel in the Midwest.
Its design blends regional materials and mission-style architectural cues, creating a unique historic landmark.
The adaptive reuse of the depot for modern passenger service and museum space shows a successful community revitalisation project.
Its elevation above the 500-year flood level ensures resilience and long-term viability for rail service.

Visit & Contact Information

For schedule and fare information, visit Amtrak’s official website or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
For local history, you may connect with the North Lee County Historical Society and the City of Fort Madison tourism resources.