The Jefferson City Amtrak station occupies the old Missouri Pacific Railroad depot built in 1904, a handsome brick building that survived the decline of rail travel and still sees two trains in each direction daily on Amtrak's Missouri River Runner service between Kansas City and St. Louis. The building has been renovated and serves as a waiting room and small local history exhibit space.
The Missouri River Runner makes Jefferson City accessible without a car, which is worth knowing — the station is a short walk from Jefferson Landing and the Capitol. The train route follows the Missouri River valley for much of its length, making the journey itself worthwhile. The 1904 depot is one of the better-preserved examples of the railroad architecture that once defined American small-city centers.