Springfield Union Station (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Station
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The former Springfield Union Station is a component of the Lincoln Presidential Library Visitor Center
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 Location in Illinois
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| Location | 500 East Madison Street, Springfield, Illinois |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Francis T. Bacon |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001189 |
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 1978 |
Springfield Union Station is an old train station in Springfield, Illinois. Today, it is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The building has a special design style called Richardson Romanesque. You can find it at 500 East Madison Street in downtown Springfield, right next to the Lincoln Presidential Library.
The station first opened in 1898. It served many trains until 1971. That's when Amtrak moved its train services to a different station nearby. After trains stopped using it, Union Station was home to state government offices and other businesses. The building became a protected historical site in 1978. It reopened to the public in 2007 as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Contents
A Look Back: Union Station's History
Springfield Union Station was designed in 1896. It was meant to be a shared train station for several railroad companies. These included the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. The Illinois Central was the main company using the station. Their chief architect, Francis T. Bacon, designed the building.
The station was built between 1897 and 1898. It cost about $75,000, which was a lot of money back then! It officially opened on January 2, 1898. For 73 years, many passenger trains traveled through this station. They connected Springfield to big cities like Chicago and St. Louis.
Illinois Central's Main Role
Most of the trains at Union Station belonged to the Illinois Central Railroad. When the station first opened, Illinois Central trains only went northeast from Springfield. They traveled to places like Clinton and Chicago. In 1899, Illinois Central bought a train line that went south to St. Louis. This allowed them to offer more routes.
By 1900, Illinois Central had popular trains like the Daylight Special and the Diamond Special. These trains competed with other services to Chicago and St. Louis. Later, by 1936, their famous trains on this route were called the Green Diamond and the Night Diamond.
Other Railroads and Changes
Other train companies also used Union Station for a while. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had some services through Springfield. However, they later moved their trains to a different station. The Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad also offered trips from Union Station. But they eventually built their own station further north in 1937.
Springfield Union Station was one of five important train stations in the city. It stood out because of its beautiful and fancy design. Other stations were built more for practical use.
The Famous Clock Tower
One of the most striking parts of Union Station was its tall clock tower. It was about 110 feet (34 meters) high! This tower made the station a well-known landmark in Springfield. However, in 1936, the clock hands were removed to save money on upkeep. Then, in 1946, the tower was taken down to its base.
The End of an Era
Passenger train service at Springfield Union Station stopped on April 30, 1971. The last Illinois Central train, called the Governor's Special, made its final trip. This happened because Amtrak, a new national passenger rail company, was created. Amtrak trains still serve Springfield today, but they use a different station a few blocks away.
Union Station's New Life
After trains stopped running, Union Station was used by different businesses. Then, it housed offices for the state of Illinois until 2004. The building then underwent a big restoration project. It cost $12.5 million to bring it back to life.
In March 2007, the station reopened as the visitor center for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. As part of the restoration, the famous clock tower was rebuilt! This made the station look much like it did before 1936. Even though it's no longer a visitor center, Union Station is still a key part of the Lincoln Presidential Library. It now holds exhibits and shows about Lincoln's life. You need a ticket to enter.
Images for kids
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New clock tower constructed in 2006 to replicate tower removed in 1946 from Springfield Union Station
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Interior of former Springfield Union Station as renovated for use as Lincoln Presidential Library Visitor Center
