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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The development of Texas in the late 1800s and early |
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1900s was shaped in important ways by the railroad, with |
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communities all across the state being transformed by the arrival |
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of this revolutionary mode of transportation; and |
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WHEREAS, Sadly, many of the historic depots that were |
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integral to railroad operations have not survived the passage of |
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the decades, and the disappearance of these structures deprives |
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Texans of a tangible link to the state's past; and |
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WHEREAS, In certain places, however, residents have had the |
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foresight to preserve the vintage architectural treasures related |
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to train travel, and the town of Giddings stands at the forefront of |
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this trend; this historic crossroads in Central Texas has three |
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original depots, each of which has been restored and put to use in |
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ways that help illuminate the community's heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, The resurrection of these buildings is especially |
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fitting for Giddings, a city that was founded when the Houston and |
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Central Texas Railway was built through the area in the early 1870s |
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and that grew into an important rail junction; over time, the city's |
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downtown became home to three depots: Union Station, which dates to |
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the 1880s, a freight depot from the 1890s, and a brick passenger |
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facility, built circa 1920; all three had closed by the 1960s due to |
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the decline in train transportation, but each would survive to see a |
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brighter day; and |
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WHEREAS, A downtown revitalization plan drafted in the late |
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1990s called for the restoration of the depots, and work was |
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completed in 2009; today, Union Station houses the Rural Texas |
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Tourism Center and the Union Station Transportation Museum, the |
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brick passenger facility serves as the site of the Giddings |
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Economic Development Corporation and the Giddings Area Chamber of |
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Commerce, and the freight depot contains additional displays |
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related to railroad history and memorabilia; the revitalization |
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project also prompted the establishment of a walking tour of the |
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historic area in Giddings; and |
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WHEREAS, This admirable undertaking has once again made the |
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depots a focal point of the downtown area, sparking a broader |
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renaissance in the city and also publicizing the attractions of |
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other small towns in the state through the efforts of the Rural |
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Texas Tourism Center; moreover, the restoration of these historic |
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train facilities provides visitors with a unique opportunity to |
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gain deeper insight into the rich history of rail transport and the |
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ways in which it helped build Texas into the dynamic state we know |
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today; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate Giddings as the official Depot Capital of Texas. |