Rapidan Passenger Depot

The Rapidan Passenger Depot is located at the junction of VA 614, VA 615, and VA 673 in Rapidan, Virginia.

History

In January 1848 three petitions are submitted to the Virginia General Assembly from businessmen in Culpeper County for incorporation of an "Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company". In March 1848 the Virginia General Assembly charters the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company. It's charter specifies that it is to run from Gordonsville through Culpeper Court House to Alexandria.

The town in which the station lies began in the small milling community known as Waugh's Ford. With the coming of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in 1854, the settlement was renamed Rapid Ann Station, reflecting the customary name of the river (a fast-moving stream named for Princess Ann).

In January 1854, the railroad reaches the Rapidan River and station is established a post office is opened at "Rapid Ann Station". Later, in April 1863, W.H.F. Lee's Confederate Cavalry burn the Rapidan River Bridge. In September of 1964, federal cavalry burn facilities at Mitchell and Rapidan Stations. In 1876, the Charlottesville & Rapidan RR was incorporated to construct a direct line between Orange and Charlottesville. This line was eventually merged into the Southern railway and today serves as Norfolk Southern's mainline between the two cities. The original line between Orange and Gordonsville was leased to the Chesapeake & Ohio RR. The current Passenger Depot is constructed. In 1880, the Charlottesville and Rapidan Railroad is opened (Gordonsville by-pass). In 1886, the village and subsequently the Station/Stop was renamed Rapidan.