▁and ▁Rio ▁Grande ▁Dep ot , ▁is ▁listed ▁on ▁the ▁National ▁Register ▁of ▁Historic ▁Places . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁historical ▁museum ▁is ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁original ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁Den ver ▁and ▁Rio ▁Grande ▁Dep ot ▁in ▁dow nt own ▁Mont rose , ▁Colorado . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 8 0 0 s ▁the ▁narrow ▁gauge ▁rail road ▁was ▁the ▁main ▁mode ▁of ▁transport ation . ▁The ▁daily ▁operation ▁of ▁passenger ▁and ▁fre ight ▁trains ▁promoted ▁the ▁growth ▁of ▁Mont rose . ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 9 2 0 s ▁saw ▁a ▁rapid ▁decl ine ▁in ▁rail road ▁transport ation ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁fast ▁increase ▁in ▁the ▁use ▁of ▁autom ob iles ▁and ▁tr uck s . ▁The ▁loss ▁of ▁business ▁caused ▁the ▁rail ro ads ▁to ▁dis continue ▁passenger ▁ ▁scheduled ▁service . ▁The ▁dep ot ▁ended ▁its ▁use ▁as ▁a ▁train ▁station ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁the ▁Den ver ▁and ▁Rio ▁Grande ▁Western ▁Rail road ▁Company ▁don ated ▁the ▁dep ot ▁and ▁the ▁land ▁to ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Mont rose ▁to ▁use ▁as ▁a ▁museum . ▁The ▁Mont rose ▁Historical ▁Society ▁has ▁operated ▁in ▁this ▁location ▁since ▁that ▁time . ▁The ▁museum ▁attract s ▁diverse ▁visitors ▁from ▁across ▁Colorado , ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁and ▁abroad . ▁ ▁Collection ▁ ▁The ▁Mont rose ▁County ▁Historical ▁Museum ▁houses ▁numerous ▁collections ▁that ▁were ▁don ated ▁by ▁the ▁region ' s ▁pione er ▁families ▁that ▁per tain ▁to