The model of the Monon’s Salem depot was built by modeler Steve Summers of New Albany, using the Monon’s original building plans.

During the fund-raising and construction stages of The Depot project, the model was taken to meetings and school classes as part of programs telling about the project.

Summers used small pieces of wood to construct the walls of the depot, making it an accurate representation of the station that served Salem from 1909 until it closed in 1973. It was bulldozed in 1982. The color is also accurate.

In the vicinity of the depot are several buildings that used to be in Salem, but have since been torn down. Models of these buildings have been constructed by John G. Campbell of Louisville, making the area around the depot historically accurate for the period that is being modeled – 1957-1964