Savannah Union Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Savannah Union Station
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Savannah Union Station, rendering by architect Frank P. Milburn
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| Line(s) | Atlantic Coast Line Railroad | |
| Construction | ||
| Architect | Frank Pierce Milburn | |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance and Elizabethian styles | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1902 | |
| Closed | 1962 | |
| Former services | ||
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Savannah Union Station was a busy train station in Savannah, Georgia. It was located on West Broad Street, which is now called Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. This station was a meeting point for three big railroad companies: the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, and the Southern Railway.
Usually, a "union station" means a place where all train companies in a city stop. However, in Savannah, the Central of Georgia and the Savannah and Atlanta Railway used their own separate stations.
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A Look at Savannah Union Station
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The station was designed by an architect named Frank Pierce Milburn from Columbia, South Carolina. It was finished in 1902 and cost about $150,000 to build. The building had a mix of Spanish Renaissance and Elizabethian styles, which made it look grand.
The most striking part of the station was its main waiting room. This room was shaped like an octagon, meaning it had eight sides, and was 80 feet wide. For much of the station's history, during a time called Jim Crow, there were unfair laws that separated people based on race. Because of these laws, African-American passengers had to use a separate waiting room.
The outside walls of the station were made of special pressed bricks. They also had fancy granite and terra cotta decorations. The building even had two tall towers, adding to its impressive look.
A Hub of Activity
Savannah Union Station was a very important place for the city. Many travelers arrived here, stepping out onto West Broad Street. Their arrival brought lots of business to the area. The street became lively with theaters, bars, and stores. For many years, the Union Station area was known as a key center for business and culture, especially for Black Savannah residents.
In August 1962, the last passenger trains stopped using Union Station. They moved to a new Atlantic Coast Line station located on the edge of Savannah. This new station is still used today by Amtrak. Just one year later, in 1963, Union Station was torn down. This was done to make space for a new highway, Interstate 16, and a large road intersection.
Famous Trains That Stopped Here
Many well-known trains made stops at Savannah Union Station. These trains carried passengers to different cities across the country. Here are some of the famous ones:
- The Champion train, run by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, traveled between New York City and cities in Florida like St. Petersburg and Miami.
- The Everglades train, also from the Atlantic Coast Line, connected Washington, D.C. to Jacksonville, Florida.
- The Havana Special offered trips from New York City to Tampa and Miami, Florida.
- The Palmetto (ACL train) was another Atlantic Coast Line train that went to New York, New York.
- The Seaboard Air Line Railroad had its own popular trains, like the Palmland, which traveled from New York City to Tampa and Miami.
- The Silver Meteor was a very famous Seaboard Air Line train that went from New York City all the way to Miami, Florida.
- The Sunland train connected Washington, D.C. and Portsmouth, Virginia, to Tampa, Florida.
- The Tidewater train went from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Jacksonville, Florida.
- The Southern Railway operated the Skyland Special, which linked Asheville, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida.
What's There Now?
Today, where the historic Union Station once stood, you'll find an Enmark service station nearby. The Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed, another old train station, is also close by. It has been repurposed and now serves as the Savannah Visitor Information Center.
See also
- Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed (Savannah, Georgia), another historic station in Savannah
- Savannah station (Amtrak), the current train station for Savannah
