11: Laconia Passenger Station

The Laconia Railroad Station is significant not only as a fine example of late Romanesque Revival Architecture, but also for its role in transportation, commerce, and industry in Laconia and the Lakes Region. Visually, it is a pivotal element to downtown Laconia and is considered a local landmark. The station is attributed to New York City Architect Bradford L Gilbert and exemplifies the Romanesque Revival style.

The structure has further architectural significance as a surviving example of a late nineteenth century railroad passenger station in New Hampshire. Relatively few of the state's stations survive and among those which do, Laconia's is of relatively large-scale and high-style design and detailing.

The station was built largely because of the substantial efforts of Charles A Busiel, a Laconian who served as a managing director of the railroad and who was intent on making various improvements and expansions of the rail system in order to serve travelers and shippers throughout the Lakes Region in a better, more comprehensive way.