Our Plan

Who we are:

We are united Columbians from all walks of life. We are apolitical. This is an alliance including conservatives and liberals, young and old, historians, business owners, non-profits, students and professors, townies, Lions, Tigers, Kewpies and Bruins, Spartans, Bulldogs and Trailblazers. We all share in common a love of Katy Station. You can view a list of our supporters here.

How can Katy Station be saved?

We are open to and exploring two main options:

A) The best case scenario is if The Katy becomes available to a buyer (or buyers) who will preserve it in its original location.

B) If that’s not possible, the station could be moved to a nearby location, ideally near or along The MKT Trail.

Why is Katy Station worth saving?

In short, it’s a beloved architectural and historical treasure that cannot be replaced if lost. Read this paragraph and visit our history page to learn more.

What will be done with Katy Station if you are successful?

That remains to be determined, but a number of very good ideas have been put forward. Send us yours! We must act together now to have this conversation.

Who could pay for this project?

There are many differing opinions, but also many solutions. A coalition of private individuals and donors is likely the best way forward. We do not believe any one organization or government body should bear this alone.

If it comes to that, can the Katy actually be moved?

Yes, we have spoken to experts who assure us that it is possible.

How can I help?

If you support this plan add your name in support. We must demonstrate how much Columbia cares about Katy Station. We will not sell or use your information for anything except this effort. We are not currently seeking donations, but may in the future. That said, if you have something unusually generous to offer in time, talent, or funding, please contact us.

Doesn’t the building’s status on the National Register of Historic Places protect it?

No. The National Register of Historic Places does not protect a building from demolition. The register only provides incentives, like access to tax credits and grant funding. Just being placed on the register does not add any legal obligations to the property owner.

Are you against property rights?

No. We respect the rights of property owners and hope a satisfactory solution can be found for all parties involved. We seek to find a win-win solution.

Are you against downtown development or student housing?

No. We take no position on these issues, we are only focused on preserving Katy Station.

Isn’t the building in bad shape?

We understand the building to be in very good condition.

What do the words “MKT” and “Katy” mean?

The "Katy" railroad's nickname was derived from the initials of the states it was founded to serve: Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. The railroad began as the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railway (MK&T) before an early-1920s corporate reorganization subtly renamed it to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT). The "Katy" nickname may have come directly from these names, or from the railroad's stock symbol (KT), but it quickly became a universal shorthand for anything to do with the MK&T or MKT.

In the mid-1890s, the Katy built a new main line along the Missouri River that passed through western Boone County and gave the railroad access to St. Louis. Soon thereafter, an 8.7 mile spur was built from the Town of McBaine to serve passengers and freight customers in Columbia. This generated enough traffic that the original wooden depot was replaced in 1909 with the current brick structure that still graces Downtown Columbia. Today, the main line serves as the backbone for Missouri's 240-mile cross-state Katy Trail State Park rail trail. The Columbia spur serves as a connecting trail named the MKT Trail, allowing cyclists and other users to connect with the main trail, just as passengers and freight once did.