In 1979, the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot at Susanville closed its doors. In the ensuing years, the Susanville Fire Department deemed the abandoned building a public safety hazard. In June 1987, Susanville Fire Chief John Malmquist entered into an agreement with the Southern Pacific to torch the. building as part of a firefighting practice session. When the matter was revealed to the City Council, concerned citizens voiced their concerns. The City Council gave the building a reprieve to August 3, to allow those to come up with a solution. Malmquist reminded everyone the Southern Pacific had no intention of relinquishing the property, and it would be costly to move the depot to another location. That did not prevent the concerned citizens in their effort to save the depot. In November, 1988, a Memorandum of Understanding had been agreed by the Trust for Public Lands and the Southern Pacific to transfer the property to the Trust. Restoration began slowly and in 1994 a grand reopening of the Depot was held. In 2001, the Depot gained landmark status when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.