Terminal Station (Macon, Georgia) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terminal Station
Postcard view of Terminal Station circa 1930
Location	Macon, Georgia United States
Owned by	Macon Bibb County Transit Authority
History
Opened	1916
Closed	1971

The Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia, is a historic railroad station. It was built in 1916 and is located on 5th Street at the end of Cherry Street. A famous architect named Alfred T. Fellheimer designed it. He also helped design the well-known Grand Central Terminal in New York City. This station building is part of the Macon Historic District, which is a special place listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A Busy Start: Early History of Terminal Station

The idea for Terminal Station began in 1912. A local lawyer, Robert L. Berner, asked that all railroads in Macon build one main passenger station. His efforts led to the building of Terminal Station, which officially opened in 1916.

The outside of the station is made of light-colored limestone. Inside, the main lobby and waiting areas have beautiful pink Tennessee marble on the floors and walls.

Terminal Station was very large, covering about 13 acres of land. It was owned by the Macon Terminal Company. By the mid-1920s, the station was incredibly busy. About 100 trains arrived and left every single day! Many different railroad companies used the station, including the Georgia Railroad, Central of Georgia Railway, Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad, and Southern Railway.

The last passenger trains to use the station were the Royal Palm in 1970 and the Nancy Hanks in 1971. When the Nancy Hanks made its final trip on April 30, 1971, it marked the end of 125 years of passenger train service in Macon.

Famous Trains That Visited

Many well-known trains stopped at Terminal Station during its busiest years. Here are some of them:

• Central of Georgia:
  • Nancy Hanks: This train traveled between Atlanta and Savannah.

• Central of Georgia and Louisville & Nashville:
  • Flamingo: This train connected Cincinnati, Knoxville, Atlanta, and Jacksonville.
  • Southland: This long-distance train went from Chicago to Cincinnati, Knoxville, Atlanta, and then to cities in Florida like St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Miami.

• Frisco and Southern:
  • Kansas City-Florida Special: This train linked Kansas City, Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Jacksonville.

• Southern Railway:
  • Florida Sunbeam: This train brought passengers from cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland all the way to Miami.
  • Ponce de Leon: This train traveled between Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Jacksonville.
  • Royal Palm: Another train that connected Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Jacksonville.

What Happened Next: Recent History

After serving for almost 60 years, Terminal Station closed its doors in 1971. The building then sat empty for a while. In 1982, the Georgia Power Company bought it and used it as offices until the 1990s.

In 2002, the City of Macon, Georgia, purchased the historic Terminal Station. Since then, the building has been beautifully restored. Today, it is often used as a special place for events like weddings and other gatherings. It's a great example of how old buildings can be given new life!