The Union Pacific Railroad Pumphouse in Kit Carson supplied water for steam engines and is thought to have been constructed in the 1870s. The sandstone block and brick building has a towered board and batten rear addition that once housed the well from which water was pumped, an unusual example of masonry for a railroad utility building, and is considered the only extant structure of its kind in Colorado. The pumphouse is associated with the settlement of Colorado’s eastern plains and the development of the railroad. Located at the end of the rail line, Kit Carson boomed to a population of 1,500 and became a junction point for the Kansas Pacific route and the first passenger train to Denver. In 1880, Jay Gould sold the Kansas Pacific Railroad to the Union Pacific. The building is listed on the State Register of Historic Properties and is believed eligible for the National Register.
Colorado Preservation, Inc., contacted the Union Pacific (UP) to discuss the fate of the pumphouse. UP, concerned that the building’s deterioration and proximity to tracks are hazardous, is willing to entertain the idea of improvements only if immediate. They have suggested that the property be moved, though this is not final. If the site can be stabilized and meet other provisions, they may allow it to remain in place. The Kit Carson Historical Society, which is working to acquire the property from UP, has received funding to assess the building’s condition and continues to research its history. In 2022, CPI prioritized the pumphouse as one of five key EPP sites. CPI has reestablished contact with the Historical Society and facilitated a building analysis conducted by UC-Denver engineering students. Continuing CPI’s relationship with UP, along with assisting conversations with the city, will ensure future restoration efforts at the site.