THE DEPOT PROJECT
A CULTURAL CENTER HISTORY MUSEUM
FOR VISALIA
Donations Move Closer to Purchase of The Depot
Visalia Heritage’s campaign to raise $6 million to purchase and turn The Depot into a Cultural Center Museum is moving forward. Close to $1 million has been donated to date. We need $2 million to buy the building and hope to close escrow in October.
What Our Donors Are Saying…
Marybeth Porter Saey
“We are the jewel of the San Joaquin Valley, and we have a long history of culture and blessings for being placed here in this community…I can thoroughly appreciate the fact that we have this rich heritage, and I’m inviting you to share my vast enthusiasm for the Visalia Heritage Committee that has sponsored and renewed the idea that we can utilize the original train station of Visalia to be the home for a new cultural and historic museum.”
Tom & Marsha Peltzer
“We’re very excited about the Visalia Heritage museum. It’s a coming together of a lot of issues that make this very timely. We’re approaching 200,000 in population, and we don’t have a museum! The ability to locate at the old Depot Restaurant in one of the most iconic buildings in the community is a tremendous opportunity. Plus the fact that we’ve been able to negotiate an acceptable deal with the owners, and the owners are excited about it.” ~ Tom Peltzer
“So many people want to share how wonderful Visalia is. We haven’t been able to project our historical importance like other local towns, and I think it’s time.” ~ Marsha Peltzer
William Martin has links to The Depot history
William Martin sits in his office in Montgomery Square in Downtown Visalia (the old Montgomery Ward building), talking about the history of Visalia before presenting his check to The Depot project.
William owns the building and used to own the historic Palace Hotel (he’s shown holding a newspaper article about the hotel that hangs in his office).
“I’m very pleased to be a supporter of this project. It’s near and dear to my heart. I have a lot of history from both parents who came to Visalia as early as 1903,” he said.
“My mother had many stories about the Visalia Depot. She and her mother took train rides to Farmersville, Woodlake and Porterville to visit relatives. They took the train all the way to Santa Cruz to get away from the Visalia humidity and mosquitoes in the summers.”
Vector control didn’t come to Visalia until the 60s.
“Visalia was marshy then. You couldn’t be outside at night because of the mosquitos. My mother would get on the electric train and go up to Three Rivers.”
William says he learned while studying and teaching history that you don’t know where you are until you know where you’ve been.
“We’re going to make this project happen!”
VISALIA HERITAGE has opened escrow on Visalia’s historic train depot located at 207 East Oak Avenue, aka The Depot, with plans to transform this building into a community center for arts, culture, and history. Repurposing this iconic Southern Pacific Depot building will take a citywide effort to bring it to fruition. Consultants and our Visalia Heritage Steering Committee comprised of community members will lead us in a $6 milllion fundraising campaign.
HISTORY OF VISALIA HERITAGE
Since 1978, Visalia Heritage has preserved and celebrated the rich, vibrant history of our community. We’ve created a mini Heritage Museum of early photos in the The Lofts at Fort Visalia, developed a historic walking tour, restored the chapel at the Visalia District Cemetery, and hosted tours of historic homes: a small sample of our many accomplishments in our 47 years. And we are just getting started!
Now, we’re taking the next big step: Creating a permanent home for a Visalia History Museum.
THE DEPOT CHALLENGE
Visalia Heritage is working to purchase the former train station that was transformed into The Depot Restaurant in 1971. We will renovate it and transfigure it into a museum space for permanent and revolving exhibits, a venue for cultural events, a tapas bar, and a home for Visit Visalia, as well as a number of other possibilities. This is Visalia’s opportunity to tell our story of the oldest community between Los Angeles and Stockton.
The Depot, built in 1916 and expanded over the years, welcomed newcomers to Visalia for decades. After World War II, it stopped serving passenger trains. Then for many years locals gathered at The Depot to dine, connect, and celebrate joyous occasions.
Visalia Heritage is preparing to give The Depot new life as a museum and cultural center telling the stories of all of us who comprise our Visalia home. Through a public-private partnership, this ambitious $6 million project is a key component in what is becoming a vibrant arts district on Visalia’s historic Oak Avenue.
To make this dream a reality, the Visalia Heritage Board is announcing our All Aboard Visalia Campaign for the purchase and renovation of The Depot. This $6 million campaign will secure funding from individuals, families, businesses, foundations, and public funding for the purchase, renovation, and initial programming of this community history museum.
Gifts to the campaign may be received in the form of three-year pledges and one-time gifts. Gifts in the form of appreciated securities and gifts-in-kind are welcome. Naming, honoring, and memorial gifting are also available to donors.
Join us in making this vision a realiy.
“This project will preserve all that has gone into this great community and the people who made it that way. All generations can see what the area has meant to so many of us and why it is so important to treasure it and build it even stronger.”
Stan Simpson, the first major donor to this project.
MEET OUR CAMPAIGN CHAIRS
Marty Zeeb and Sabrina Jimenez have graciously agreed to chair the Visalia Heritage Steering Committee, which is guiding the organization’s $6 million campaign to turn The Depot into a cultural center museum.
Marty Zeeb, founder of Zeeb Commercial Real Estate, now Zeeb Pearson Commercial, has long been active in the Visalia community. He is past director of the Visalia Board of Realtors and past president of Visalia Jaycees. His affiliations include the Visalia County Center Rotary, Visalia YMCA, Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation and Visalia Community Rotary Foundation. He was named the Visalia Chamber’s 2023 Man of the Year for his dedication to improving Visalia and his long-standing support of community organizations.
“I’m really excited about this whole project to bring the culture and history of Visalia into one of the classic buildings in downtown. It will enliven the whole business community,” Marty said.
Sabrina Jimenez is a proud Visalia native and local business owner with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She is a proven leader in healthcare operations, marketing and business development and has contributed to various nonprofit and development initiatives. She has recently bought an historic home and is deeply engaged in celebrating and safeguarding the city’s rich history.
“Visalia is more than my hometown,” Sabrina said. “It’s part of who I am. I believe our history deserves a permanent place to be preserved and cherished. Building this museum ensures that future generations feel that same pride in our roots and culture.”
VISALIA HERITAGE STEERING COMMITTEE 2026
WALTER DEISSLER, Executive Team
ALISON SCHLICK MINIACI, Executive Team
DONNA OROZCO, Executive Team
MICHAEL KREPS, Executive Team
SABRINA JIMENEZ, Committee Chair
MARTY ZEEB, Committee Chair
MONDO APODACA, Emeritus
SHERRIE BAKKE
GREG COLLINS
NICOLE COWAN
TYLER DAVIS
JEANETTE FERREIRA
BRENNA KECK
ROSE KIRKPATRICK
CHERYL LEVITAN
AMIE RANGEL
MIKE SHUKLIAN
STAN SIMPSON
SUE THARP