This structure was built in 1887 as a passenger and freight depot, possibly by J.A. McGonigle, a prominent Leavenworth builder. It was located west of the city's central business district, and near the north-south lines built in the 1870s for the Leavenworth, Lawrence, and Galveston Railroad Company. It served as a passenger depot for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe and as a station for the Fort Leavenworth/Kansas City Interurban Railway until the early 1930s. It was then converted to a freight depot, and an addition on the south elevation was constructed at that time.

The architectural style of this pink sandstone building is Richardsonian Romanesque. It is 1 ½ stories tall, and is located on the east side of two pairs of tracks. The primary façade faces west and has a circular bay with a conical roof, which was a room for the station master. The hip roof has three gable projections, which on the north and east sides shelter entry arcades. On the interior, separate waiting rooms were built for men and women.

The depot is culturally significant, and maintains a high degree of integrity. The original configuration and architectural elements remain intact. In 1982 it ceased operation as a freight depot, and was bought by a private investor. The depot has been used since then primarily as a restaurant. In 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.