Denver Union Station, Travel by Train

Purely on aesthetics Denver Union Station is one of the most appealing and interesting railroad stations in the country. While part of this is due to the structure's beautiful Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical design the other is the station's impressive and distinctive arched neon-lit sign, Union Station, Travel by Train. During the heyday of rail travel in this country the terminal played host to many of the West's most famous streamliners and witnessed thousands of passengers parading through its halls daily. Thankfully, Denver Union Station has had quite a happy and productive life (unlike some of its other counterparts across the country) and has been in continual use since it opened in 1914. Even more importantly for the structure's future is that the City of Denver has included the station as part of its major commuter rail project throughout the city, so expect the building to remain a centerpiece for years to come.

It was UP who proposed streamlining their operations within one terminal, which was to be located just south of downtown Denver along 17th and Wynkoop Streets along the eastern bank of the South Platte River. The original union station had cost $525,000 to construct, quite a sum for that time. The first terminal was quite beautiful featuring a central clock tower with two massive wings in each direction stretching nearly a football field in length each. Sadly, this original structure was partially destroyed by fire just 13 years after opening, on March 18, 1894. The cause of the fire was faulty electrical wiring, which was not uncommon in those times. With the central waiting room area heavily damaged and clock tower destroyed the second reconstructed terminal was designed by Van Brunt & Howe of Kansas City.

The rebuilt terminal opened later that same year in 1894, thanks to the work of architect firm Van Brunt & Howe (also of Kansas City). They gave the new design a much lower profile but kept the same overall dimensions (width, and height of two stories) as the previous, and rebuilt the clock tower, which was a bit taller than the previous. The new terminal was designed in the Romanesque style giving it a look of Medieval Europe and somewhat resembling a classic castle.

Today's Denver Union Station was designed by local architects Gove & Walsh and was completed in 1914. It was given a Beaux-Arts styling and further lower profile, somewhat resembling the New York Central's Grand Central Terminal in New York City. One of the building's more interesting distinctive features, at least regarding rail operations, is that it was one of only a few that served both standard and narrow gauge trains as well as interurban (trolley) operations.

During the station's heyday which lasted from the time of its opening in 1914 through roughly 1950 it served some eighty daily passenger trains of the Union Pacific; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (the classic Santa Fe). It was during the 1950s that Denver Union Station's decline (as with almost all other railroad stations nationwide) as a major rail hub took place and by the 1970s few trains still called there including the famous California Zephyr, which by the spring of 1970 had been renamed the Rio Grande Zephyr, operated exclusively by the Denver & Rio Grande Western.

Today, while a few of Denver Union Station's most decorative pieces have been removed including chandeliers, candelabras, and a large welcome-arch it mostly remains intact and just as it appeared following its opening. The station also remains quite active with all floors filled with offices, business, or entertainment venues including the area immediately surrounding the building, which is quite prominent itself. Today, in the 21st century, Denver Union Station is slated by the City of Denver as a major hub for multimodal transportation, including commuter rail which is to be expanded throughout the local area. To learn more about the history and present-day operations of Denver Union Station please click here.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Railroad Stations And Depots Section

Also, for an in-depth publication about Denver Union Station consider the book Denver's Railroads: The Story of Union Station and the Railroads of Denver from author Kenton Forrest. The book details the station from its earliest beginnings through the end of the "Golden Age" of passenger rail travel. If you have any interest in the station and the railroads that once served Denver you should certainly enjoy the book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

Share Your Thoughts