It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, as the Union Pacific Railroad Depot.

The one-story brick structure is a typical railroad depot, with a rectangular plan paralleling the railroad tracks, a hipped roof and a projecting bay affording a view up and down the line.

The Rawlins depot is larger than most, with brick in lieu of frame construction, and extra detailing in the form of projecting hipped bays, an entrance tower and stepped gables.

The California Zephyr replaced the San Francisco on a more southern route on July 16, 1983, ending passenger rail service to Rawlins.

[2] Amtrak service was restored with the rerouting of the Pioneer via Rawlins on June 17, 1991.