Railroad Stations and Depots, Historical Buildings and Architectural Masterpieces
American railroad stations (also known as terminals and depots) used to be an all too common sight in our country as almost every town, large and small, could claim one, which was largely due to the fact that railroads once went literally everywhere, reaching almost any and every town. As the railroad industry progressed and grew, so did its stations which became more and more ornate and grand, ultimately culminating in this country’s (and perhaps even the world’s) greatest and most stunning railroad station ever built, New York City’s grand Pennsylvania Station (or Penn Station) constructed by the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) at the beginning of the 20th century and opened in 1910.
 |
Penn Station, however, would survive only a mere 57 years (and in many ways would be the spinning image of the rise and fall of the railroad industry itself through the 1970s), as the PRR was desperate for cash during the 1960s and ordered its demolition to sell off the property and air rights. While many other railroad stations would meet a similar fate between the 1950s and 1970s, the loss of Penn Station signaled a change in this country’s attitude towards its historic structures as the outrage in the aftermath of its loss triggered a movement to preserve these buildings (the result of which thwarted later efforts to demolish the New York Central’s breathtaking Grand Central Terminal, also located in New York City).
While Penn Station was without question this country’s most famous railroad station those which served the smaller towns and cities across the country were much more than just buildings to load and unload passengers. For many years until the automobile became a reliable means of transportation the railroad station/depot was the center of life for these towns as it was the only means to the outside world for most folks. Not only did you use the building to board and de-board your train it also usually always delivered the goods you purchased.
Railroad stations built during the 19th and early 20th centuries were true works of art, many with designs which reflected the Victorian or Roman eras as well as being constructed many times from the very same materials such as marble and crystal, which is a big reason why many are preserved and so coveted today (especially after the loss of Penn Station which used countless tons of many different types of marble in its construction). Even the railroad stations and depots from the same time period which built from wood and/or brick were likewise constructed with beautiful designs in mind (many of these were also from the Victorian era), which is why those smaller towns and cities who have preserved their depots take such pride in them (and many times these buildings are the centerpiece efforts in revitalizing their downtown areas, whether the railroad tracks still remain in place or not).
 |
As the automobile came of age, however, and our highway infrastructure became much better the local railroad station fell from importance and no longer was the most essential building in towns and cities. As the 1950s came so went the local depot in most smaller towns and cities where the car or truck was much more accessible and reliable for the short to medium distances folks usually traveled (it was also a huge financial drain on the railroads to maintain these smaller depots where the little passenger traffic there quickly dried up after World War II, so they were very happy to discontinue these trains and shutdown the depots if possible). And, by the 1960s even the larger and more prominent railroad stations were not immune to closure or demolition.
Many of these stations are prominent and truly beautiful enough to worthy extra mention and are listed here:
 |
Magnificent and Renowned Railroad Stations
Terminal Station (The Chattanooga Choo Choo)
Los Angeles Union Station (Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, LAUPT)
Union Stations
St. Louis Union Station |
Quaint Railroad Depots
Ellicott City Station, Maryland
Point of Rocks Station, Maryland
Surviving Railroad Stations
Massachusetts Railroad Stations
New Hampshire Railroad Stations
North Carolina Railroad Stations
North Dakota Railroad Stations
Pennsylvania Railroad Stations
Rhode Island Railroad Stations
South Carolina Railroad Stations
More South Carolina Depot Information
South Dakota Railroad Stations
West Virginia Railroad Stations
The information above is a compilation of many railroad stations which still survive across the country, broken down by state. Please note that unless otherwise noted the building mentioned that is still standing refers to a passenger depot (i.e., "originally built by..."). I realize that there may be corrections/additions to any of the above lists. If you may know of any please let me know (either through e-mail or simply make a post below to the Facebook comments) and I will work to get the information up-to-date. Many thanks in advance for any bit of help you may have!
 |
While Penn Station is no longer with us its loss was, again, a wakeup call, and besides Grand Central Terminal a number of other large and prominent railroad stations across the country have since been saved and preserved as well (many are also still in used as they were originally intended, as a place to pick up and drop off rail travelers). Finally, please be aware that the links to the individual state railroad station pages are PDF files and provide the latest information that I currently have on standing and/or restored buildings. Much of this information was researched through the Railroad Station Historical Society's database. If you have any questions about surviving stations/depots or know of any to add to the lists please feel free to get in touch.
Share Your Thoughts
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Please note that while I strive to present the information as accurately as possible I am aware that there may be errors. If you have potential corrections the help is greatly appreciated.