Norman, OK (NOR)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2011

$306,051

Station Ridership

FY 2011

14,364

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

The Amtrak station in Norman was built for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) in 1909 by Lungsren & Carlson. Sitting in the heart of historic Norman, the Santa Fe depot is a well-preserved example of Mission Revival architecture, built in brick and limestone, with a cross-gabled clay tile. Passenger train service was discontinued in Oklahoma in 1979, closing the building. Ownership was conveyed to the city on October 16, 1986; the Santa Fe Depot Preservation Committee, which later became Norman Depot, Inc., formed that same year and reopened the building as a multipurpose community facility in 1990. When the Heartland Flyer began service in June 1999, the building was reconverted to use as a station. The Norman Santa Fe depot was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1991.

Today, the south side of the depot is used as the Amtrak station, with an unstaffed waiting room. The north side is the home of the Norman Arts and Humanities Council and the Santa Fe Depot Art Center. The grounds are often used for special events and currently display public art sculptures in wood and bronze by Oklahoma artists, and are part of the Legacy Trail urban park. Also on the property is a statue of Norman native and actor James Garner as he appeared as Bret Maverick on the television series “Maverick,” which ran from 1957 to 1962 and again in 1981-82.

The station’s most recent renovation, completed in 2003, was under direction of Arn Henderson, University of Oklahoma architecture professor emeritus. Renovations included installation of new baggage doors, lighting, heat and air conditioning, general repairs, landscaping and other improvements. This $480,000 project was funded with 80 percent of the Federal money coming from the Federal Surface Transportation Funds ($384,000) and the remaining 20 percent provided by Soft Match Credit funds available to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The remainder came from the city’s capital fund.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will bring several improvements to the Norman station including a new wheelchair lift and enclosure, and modifications to the metal fence to accommodate the enclosure. The estimated cost for these improvements is $29,300.

In 1870, the U.S. Land Office contracted for the newly formed Indian Territories to be surveyed. Abner E. Norman, a young professional surveyor, led the central survey area, including the grassy hills and bottom lands that would become Norman. The surveyor’s camp on Bishop’s Creek retained its name of Norman’s Camp over the years. The ATSF planned a station there in 1886-87, and the railroad platted a town, assigning the name “Norman” to that station, and on June 13, 1887, the first northbound passenger train passed Norman Station.

However, no Euro-American settlers came until the Great Land Run of 1889; and on April 22, 1889, Norman Station was selected by railroad engineer Charles Chamberlin to become the site for the new town of Norman.

While Norman is the largest city in and the county seat of Cleveland County, it is also home to the University of Oklahoma, which was founded in Norman in 1890, one of three state-mandated colleges and universities for higher education chartered at that time. Today, with about 30,000 students, it is not only the largest institution of higher learning in the state, but also a nationally-respected university. Along with substantial scientific and technological research and its athletics program, the university is well-known for the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art, which houses the largest collection of French Impressionist works belonging to a university and its focus in Native American art.

Located on the Research Campus at Oklahoma University is the National Weather Center, a confederation of University of Oklahoma, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state organizations that study atmospheric events over a wide range of space and times. The Center’s annual National Weather Festival is open to the public and features the Storm Chaser Car Show, with awards for Most Hail Damage, Most Working Sensors, Most Unique, Most Cutting Edge, Best Looking, and Meatwagon (most beat up but reliable on short notice).

Amtrak does not provide ticketing or baggage services at the Norman facility.

Norman is served by two daily trains.