When steamboat traffic on the Missouri River declined after the Civil War, Rocheport faced an uncertain future. The arrival of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railroad in 1893 offered a reprieve. The new depot on Depot Street became the center of commercial and social activity, connecting Rocheport to markets in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Tobacco, grain, and livestock moved through the depot throughout the early 20th century. Passenger service brought visitors and connected Rocheport residents to larger cities. When rail service eventually declined and the Katy line was abandoned in 1986, the right-of-way was preserved — ultimately becoming the Katy Trail State Park, which now brings far more visitors to Rocheport than the railroad ever did. The depot site and its memory remain central to the town’s identity.