Saint Louis Union Station, Pride Of The City

Today’s Saint Louis Union Station no longer serves dozens of inbound and outbound passenger trains heading east and west. However, the station is one of our country’s largest and in terms of beauty and passengers served it competes with the likes of New York City’s Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. Fortunately, it has been beautifully restored and now serves more for entertainment and shopping with museums (including an operating model railroad), plays, restaurants, and tours available as just a few of things available for you (there is even a hotel now on the grounds).

The station was completed in 1894 and served in its original role until 1978 when the final long-distance passenger train left its magnificent train shed (at one time the station also saw over 100,000 daily passengers pass through its doors). Unlike many railroad stations and depots it was not long, however, until Saint Louis Union Station found a new life as an entertainment venue when in August 1985 it was completely restored at a staggering cost of over $150 million and today is a National Historic Landmark. Below is a brief history of the station and its architecture courtesy of the Saint Louis Union Station.

Saint Louis Union Station, once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world, is now one of America's great marketplaces. Union Station first opened in 1894, but ceased operation as an active train terminal in 1978. Union Station reopened in August of 1985 as the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.

Today, this 110 year old National Historic Landmark of unmatched beauty and elegance has been dramatically restored and redeveloped as a dynamic mixed-use project that includes great shopping, delicious dining and fabulous entertainment.Saint Louis Union Station houses a 539 room Hyatt Regency Hotel, luxury offices, a lake, four active train tracks and a plaza for festivals, concerts and other special events. The century-old St. Louis Union Station boasts a unique and colorful history as well as a bright future. St. Louis Union Station is truly a shopper's delight with over 90 shops and restaurants to choose from. An important part of the Station's special appeal is the variety of unique retail shops, offering everything from fine fashions to one-of-a-kind gifts.

From its magnificent 65-foot, barrel-vaulted ceiling in the Grand Hall to its Victorian-engineered train shed totaling more than 11 acres, St. Louis Union Station remains one of our nation's true architectural "gems." Built at a cost of $6.5 million in the 1890s St. Louis Union Station was designed by German-born architect Theodore C. Link of St. Louis who won the prized project in a nationwide contest.

The architecture of Saint Louis Union Station is an eclectic mix of Romanesque styles. The Station's interior and exterior details are a combination of both Richardsonian Romanesque tradition and French Romanesque or Norman style. In fact, Link modeled the grandiose Station after Carcassone, a walled, medieval city in southern France. These designs are most evident when entering the Station's Headhouse and the impressive Grand Hall, with its sweeping archways, fresco and gold leaf detailing, scagliola surfaces, mosaics and art glass windows.

A most impressive feature of the Grand Hall is the "Allegorical Window," a hand-made stained glass window with hand-cut Tiffany glass strategically positioned above the Station's main entryway. The window features three women representing the main U.S. train stations during the 1890s -- New York, St. Louis and San Francisco.

The Second main area, The Midway, once serviced more than 100,000 rail passengers a day. The 610-foot-long and 70-foot-wide concourse was connected to the massive Train Shed, where passengers lined up to board trains through one of 32 boarding gates. The Midway was constructed with a light steel trussed roof of glass and iron.

The Train Shed, 11.5 acres of sweeping arches, was the largest single-span train shed ever constructed. It once covered the greatest number of train tracks (32) than any other station in the nation. Measuring 606 feet wide by 810 feet long, the Victorian-engineered shed soars to 140 feet with its massive space divided by five structural bays.

While it has been discussed recently to remove the four remaining tracks that actually still serve the station, today train service continues to be available via Metro Link. Similarly it would be rather sad to see the station no longer carry any railroad tracks because of the significant and historical relation they carry to the building. In all, it is very heartening to see the station still standing and beautifully restored in its original splendor.

For more reading about railroad stations you might want to consider a copy of Railroad Stations from author Brian Solomon. While the book is just a very general overview of some of the great stations that once stood in this country it is quite good with lots of historical photographs, including that of Grand Central Terminal and the late Pennsylvania Station (it also gives a history of the thousands of small depots that existed in most communities). All in all if you’re interested in stations and depots you’re sure to enjoy Mr. Solomon’s book on the subject.

Also, for an book featuring Saint Louis Union Station consider Saint Louis Union Station from author Albert Montesi. Published by Arcadia Publishing the book gives an in-depth look at the historical building and as with all Arcadia books includes over 200 images. If you’re interested in the building’s past and particularly what railroads once served the station you are sure to enjoy the book!