It is fortunate that one of the old railroad depots remains as the showpiece of an era gone by to help us collect, archive and display the historic gems of the past. Below are pictured the two Callahan depots that stood side by side from the early 1880s until the original passenger Florida Railroad depot on the left burned about 1917. The two railroads collaborated by doubling the size of the elevated freight depot on the right, adding a clerk's office and ticket sales windows and passenger waiting rooms for white and colored on the far end. It is this building that remains as the headquarters of the West Nassau Historical Society and West Nassau Museum of History.
A Florida Nonprofit 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization
Located Inside the Historic Train Depot at 45383 Dixie Avenue, Callahan
Mail to P.O. Box 1758, Callahan, FL 32011 (904-879-3406)
Proud members of Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, Westside
Chamber of Commerce and Nassau Council of Arts and Culture
Collection of WNHS
Looking northeast with Brandies Avenue to the left and Dixie Avenue to the right. Circa 1880-1890s.
Abner McGehee
This page was last updated: February 8, 2026
The historic Callahan Train Depot
Copyright 2014-2025 WNHS
The depot sat in this, its second location, for generations. This is the southeast corner of the intersection of CSX's north-south double track and the old Florida Railroad line that went in front of Brandies Hardware. In the 1980s, it was acquired by the historical society and underwent a $100K renovation. This end of the depot was built in 1881 of Victorian architecture. The lower opposite end was built circa 1910 and became the passenger waiting rooms and agent's office.
Before Restoration
2025-2026 Officers
President: John Hendricks
Vice-President: Jerry Peterson
Treasurer: Emily Baumgartner
Secretary: Kim Hoffecker
2025-2026
Board of Directors
West Nassau Historical Society
Emily Baumgartner
Linda Conley
John Hendricks
Janet Homann
Kim Hoffecker
Jerry Peterson
Marge Powell
Jeanne Scott
Elton Steptoe
Collection of WNHS
SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Amanda Ream, Editor
Nassau County Record 904 879 2727
Golden Spike Level
Florida Power and Light
CSX Transportation
Okefenoke Rural Electric Co-op Foundation
First Baptist Church of Callahan
Town of Callahan
Simply Healthcare
Rayonier
WestRock
Silver Spike Level
Bob Eubanks
Anchor Church
Schwend Insurance
AA Bottle Gas and Fuel
Hagan Ace Hardware
West Fraser. Inc.
Nassau Council of Arts and Culture
Meridian Waste
Joel Pace Piano and Music
Bronze Spike Level
Vystar Credit Union
Southeastern Bank
First Federal Bank
General Meetings
4th Thursdays of each month
at the historic Callahan Train Depot
6:30 pm meal
7:00 pm meeting
Admission is free and open
to public but donations
are gladly accepted
The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer 501c3.
To donate to our group, call us today: 904 879-3406
We welcome you to our Internet site and hope to introduce you to what we have to offer at our historic Callahan depot headquarters and museum within the depot. We are in our 43rd year of caring about the future of our past. We are an all-volunteer organization looking for like-minded individuals and businesses who share our interests. Download a membership application below and join us in celebrating and preserving our rich and diverse history. Though we are located at the historic Callahan Train Depot in the heart of western Nassau County, we like our colleagues from the Yulee Historic Council and Amelia Island Museum of History, are interested in ALL of our county's history. However, our primary focus is on the western half of the county: from the banks of the tea-colored St. Marys River to Thomas Creek, from the towns of Bryceville, Boulougne, Callahan, and Hilliard to the ghost towns of Italia, Dyal, Crawford, and Gross and the vast timberlands that lay in between.
The historical society's theme is aimed at the history of the railroad which opened up the interior of Nassau County and much of the rest of the wilderness of the south and west. David Yulee's Florida Railroad began at new Fernandina, was finished through central Nassau County by mid-1856 and completed to Cedar Key by 1861. 
To Volunteer for any of the West Nassau Historical Society events or activities,
Or,
To Donate to the Society as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, contact Emily or John at (904-879-3406).
14th Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot Art Show and Sale Winners
On behalf of the West Nassau Historical Society, we want to thank everyone who came out to the historic Callahan Train Depot these past three days to check out all the local youth and adult artists' artworks. We appreciate all of the support we received to put on this show. Special thanks to OREMC Foundation, CSX and Simply Heathcare, plus volunteers from the West Nassau Arts Alliance and West Nassau Historical Society for their help and support. We are an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit and could use more help as we put on events like this. Visit www.wnhsfl.org for more info. Now, the winners of the adult division. Painting: Brenda Schwend, 1st place; Steph Bucci, 2nd place; Walter Cartategui, 3rd place; Brenda Schwend, People's Choice. Photography: Evelyn McDonald, 1st place; Christie Phelps, 2nd place; Christie Phelps, 3rd place; Brandy Meredith, People's Choice. 3D: T K Morrissey, 1st place; Janie Shehan. 2nd place; Laura Kujawski, 3rd place; Kait Davis, People's Choice. The 14th NACD art show is made possible in part by a generous grant from the OREMC Foundation. The West Nassau Historical Society is a registered all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Nassau County’s history and culture and is entrusted with the upkeep of the historic late Victorian-style Callahan Train Depot. We are also an active supporter of the West Nassau Arts Alliance and Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, organizations dedicated to promoting the arts in Nassau County. The West Nassau Historical Society is always looking for new members and volunteers to help us promote our county's rich history and culture and to host historical and cultural events such as this, so contact us today.
21st Railroad Day Festival and Car Show
Saturday, March 28 9a-3p
Grand Opening of the Smithsonian Institution
Nassau = Food + Culture:
What We Each Bring to the Table
USA's 250th Birthday
Coming Soon to the historic Callahan Train Depot
Florida Humanities and Smithsonian Insitution Exhibit
Nassau = Food + Culture: What We Each Bring to the Table
March 28 thru December 12, 2026
The West Nassau Historical Society has selected Saturday, March 28, for their signature fundraising Railroad Day Festival and Car Show. The all-volunteer nonprofit’s 21st annual celebration is an all-day event held in and around the historic 1881 Callahan Train Depot and adjoining 1856 Florida Railroad bed. This year’s event will continue to celebrate America's 250th birthday. We are also opening the Smithsonian Institution's Nassau = Food + Culture exhibit inside the Callahan Depot and annex. The 145-year old wooden train station and 1940s-era caboose will also be open.
The arts/crafts vendors and food vendors are open from 9 AM to 3 PM and the kids area will include Joel Pace hands-on music zoo and a scavenger hunt. Local live entertainment will perform on the Callahan PAV Pavilion from 9 AM to 3 PM. Callahan Cruisers will host a classic car show at Cochrane's Collision Center next door to the depot from 10 AM to 2 PM. Various citizens and sponsors will be honored and car show and contest winners announced during the festivities. Antique machines, tractors, and scaled trains will be exhibited outside the depot while model train layouts will be on display inside the Depot Annex. This is an outdoor event so please bring your lawn chairs. Admission is free and open to the public but donations are always gladly accepted.
Car Show will be held from 10 to 2p on Saturday, March 28, as part of the larger Railroad Day festival. Callahan Cruisers will host the classic car show next door to the historic depot at Cochrane's Collision Center from 10 AM to 2 PM. Car Show participants pay day of the event, Awards will be given out during the recognition ceremony at 2:00 pm at the adjacent Callahan PAV Pavilion on the historic 1856 rail bed. All proceeds will go to the all-volunteer nonprofit West Nassau Historical Society. Contact them at 904 879-3406 or message them on Facebook for more info.
The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer non-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to the preservation of Nassau County’s rich and diverse history and culture as well as being entrusted with the upkeep of the historic Callahan Train Depot. Donations to the 501c3 organization are tax deductible in accordance to current IRS rules. Sponsors and volunteers are needed to help make this year’s festival a success. For additional information on the 2026 Railroad Day Festival and Car Show, visit http://www.wnhsfl.org or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, vendor, sponsor, member, or donor call festival co-chairs John Hendricks or Emily Baumgartner at 904-879-3406.
Senior (55+) Art Classes Tues and Thurs April 14 and 16
from 10am - 12 noon
The West Nassau Historical Society is pleased to announce the offering of two art classes for senior citizens age 55 and over to be held this April. Each class will be held at the historic Callahan Train Depot annex at 45383 Dixie Avenue. Art supplies will be provided by the Historical Society. A signed entry form and nominal fee are required for each participant to attend the classes.
These two classes will be held from 10a to 12p on Tuesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 16 and will be taught by talented Nassau County artist and instructor Ed Mosher. Ed began painting as a young child and has been sharing his impressions of nature through art ever since. He and his wife have resided on Amelia Island for over 33 years and Ed is an active part of the Plantation Artists' Guild and Gallery since its early beginnings.
Class fees are $15 for one class or $25 for both classes. Class sizes are limited so preregistration is required. A registration form is available from the West Nassau Historical Society website www.wnhsfl.org or by calling 904-879-3406. Mail the completed form with payment to the West Nassau Historical Society on the address on the form. A $2 handling fee will be added to debit and credit card payments. The finished artwork will be exhibited during the Spring Ice Cream Social on Friday, April 17, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Callahan Train Depot. Joel Pace Piano and Music students will be preforming during this 90-minute exhibition. Admission to this Friday night reception is free and open to public, but donations are kindly accepted. The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of history and culture in Nassau County, Florida. Funds for these classes are made possible in part from a grant from Simply Healthcare and additional support from CSX Transportation .
