Meet your docent in the Waiting Room, where passengers would wait for their train after purchasing their tickets. View Oceano and railroad historical pieces, and rare Dunite art and artifacts.

These railroad booths were in common use on the main line of the Southern Pacific for many years, until radios became reliable enough for communication. They were placed along the main line and used by the crew to contact the train dispatcher directly in case of an emergency. 

Built in 1931 by Dunite, Chester Alan "Gavin" Arthur III, grandson of Chester Alan Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. Part of a planned Utopian colony, "Moy Mell," which was mostly abandoned by 1946. It was then moved into town on Paso Robles street until 2010, when it was again moved to its current location at the Oceano Depot. 

Passengers would buy tickets at the Ticket Window. 

The station agent would conduct the business of transportation, shipping and telegraph services from the Ticket Office. This room now hosts Oceano Barber Hap Corey's WWII collection of local service men and women's photos that once hung in his Barber Shop. 

The Forties Vintage Boxcar once ran on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In it's later years it was used for "sand service" between Marysville, CA and Ogden, UT. It was purchased by the Oceano Depot in 1998 from a Sacramento location and placed on the rails behind the depot.  It has now been converted into a kitchen, storage area and restroom facility for the Depot. 

End your tour by browsing our small gift shop with items representing the small town charm of Oceano. You can find Oceano history books, Dunite books, coffee mugs, Dunite art cards, T-Shirts and Oceano merchandise. 

Passenger baggage was stored here before being loaded onto the trains. We have an original baggage wagon from the Depot and a large collection of railroad track tools that you can view in this room. 

These rails were meticulously installed by Harold Guiton with original hand tools used for track repair and alignment. They are located behind the Oceano Depot where you will also find the Wooden Railroad Caboose and Boxcar Conversion. 

A nice little park behind the Depot with a grass area and picnic tables dedicated to Dr. Rudolph W. Gerber. Gerber was known as “Oceano’s Country Doctor” from 1930 through the 1960’s. He was an important source of Dunite and town history. The Dunites who lived in Oceano’s sand dunes were well-known by him and his lovely wife Catherine.

Used to store commercial goods before being loaded onto freight trains, the Freight Room is now home to a myriad of Oceano history from the early post offices, grocery stores, beach and land development, Women's Club and Oceano's Celery festival. Clamming history and other displays of railroad artifacts can also be viewed here. 

Most likely put in service in 1907, and purchased by Santa Maria Valley Railroad in 1926, this caboose was retired from service in 1963. Donated to The Oceano Depot by John Loomis, owner of Tar Springs Ranch near Arroyo Grande in 2004. It has been restored and now holds train memorabilia and a working model railroad display, courtesy of the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association

On September 11, 1949, a memorial was dedicated to 8 men that lost their lives in WWII. In 2001 the memorial was moved from the former Women's Club (now the Boys and Girls Club) to the depot and a rededication ceremony was held on

September 15, 2001. 

The Clam Bell hung above the Lovern's Clammers Headquarters on the beach from 1954-1969. Cast in Switzerland, over 250 years ago and made of cast iron, the bell was used to notify clammers of low tide. It was donated to the Oceano Depot by Rubye Lovern in 2002.