Built in 1927, the Venice Train Station was the last stop on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The station was built as the arrival point for people interested in buying Venice property which where attracted by large marketing campaigns. In November 1960 over 5000 people welcomed the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus to their their new winter home in Venice at the train station. This winter arrival and departure continued to draw large crowds every year until the circus left town in 1992 when the train tracks were no longer usable.
With the increase of freeway use and the decline in rail travel passenger trains quit running to the station in 1971. After that the station fell into disrepair for a couple decades.
Sarasota County purchased the property from the railroad company that owned it and restored it to its original condition. The newly renovated station opened in January 2005. It is now used as a terminal for the county mass transit system. Tours are available on Saturdays.
The station sits beside the inland waterway across from Venice Island providing very nice views of the island and waterway.
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