In 1878, the Port Huron and Northwestern Railroad was formed to build and operate a narrow gauge railroad in the thumb region of Michigan. The railroad came to Marlette in 1879 and later was extended to Mayville in 1881. Eventually the Railroad extended to Flint and Saginaw. In 1889 the Port Huron and Northwestern was sold to the Flint and Pere Marquette Line. The following year, the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway and the Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Western Railway were consolidated into the Pere Marquette Railway. In 1947, the Pere Marquette merged into the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O). During the late 1800’s to the mid 1900’s, the Marlette Depot was one of the more lucrative depots on the line. By the 1960’s, freight operations were eclipsing passenger operations.

The railroad ceased passenger operations to Marlette in 1964, and the Marlette Train Depot began a long slow decline. For many years the Depot sat abandoned. It was stripped of much of its content and many of its fixtures as well as some of its ornate woodwork. In 1998, the Depot was purchased from the railroad by Ken Roberts, a Marlette resident. Mr. Roberts had planned to use the building for a steak house, but it soon proved to be impractical. The following year, Mr. Roberts sold the Depot to the Marlette Historical Society. Financing for the purchase was provided by Independent Bank. The next year, the Michigan Legislature granted $200,000 to the Society to help with the purchase and restoration of the Depot. Later that year, the Depot qualified for the State Historic Sites Registry.

The Depot was restored to its original condition and now houses the Marlette Depot Museum, dedicated to the history of Marlette and the surrounding area. The Depot Museum is operated by volunteer members of the Marlette Historical Society. It is open on Sundays from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm from May to October. Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated.