Union Station (Omaha) facts for kids
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Union Passenger Terminal
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Interior of Union Station
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 Location in Nebraska
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| Location | 801 South 10th Street Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Gilbert Stanley Underwood |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District (ID96000769) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000484 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 2016 |
| Designated CP | July 19, 1996 |
The Union Station, also known as Union Passenger Terminal, is a famous building in Omaha, Nebraska. It's located at 801 South 10th Street. This building is considered one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the Midwest. It became an Omaha Landmark in 1978. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2016. Union Station is an important part of the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. It was the first Art Deco train station built by the Union Pacific Railroad. Its completion made Omaha a very important center for railroads in the Midwest.
Contents
The First Train Station
Before the current building, there was an older train station. This first station was designed by an architect named Charles Sumner Frost from Chicago. Construction started in October 1898. The building was finished on December 1, 1899. It cost about $405,782 to build.
The old station's front was 60 feet (about 18 meters) tall. It was mostly built from bricks made in Omaha. It also used Bedford stone for its fancy details. A roof made of glass and iron protected people from the weather as they entered the station.
Building the Current Union Station
The Union Station you see today was designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood. He was an architect from Los Angeles. The building has a strong steel frame. It is covered with cream-colored, shiny terra cotta tiles.
Work on the building began on July 29, 1929. It was completed on January 15, 1931. The large building is 124,000 square feet (about 11,520 square meters). It cost $3.5 million to build. Underwood once said he wanted the building to show the "strength, power, and masculinity" of railroads.
At its opening, Carl Raymond Gray, who was the president of the Union Pacific Railroad, said the station was built "to serve, comfort and convenience of the people."
Modern Features and Grand Style
Union Station became famous for its new technology. It had electric conveyor belts for luggage. It also had escalators and lots of lighting. People also loved the building's traditional and fancy parts. These included very large women's restrooms. There were beautiful marble columns and floors. Deep oak wood surrounded every window and door.
In its first year, 1.5 million passengers used the station. This shows how busy and important it was.
Changes Over Time
By 1946, 64 steam trains were running. They brought 10,000 passengers in and out of Union Station every day. But things started to change in the next ten years.
- In 1956, the Chicago and North Western Railroad stopped its service through Omaha.
- In 1960, the Wabash Railroad left.
- In 1965, the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Chicago Great Western Railway stopped running.
- The Rock Island Railroad followed in 1969.
Passenger train service at Union Station ended in 1971. The Union Pacific Railroad then gave the station to the City of Omaha in 1973.
Union Station Today
After passenger service stopped, the station quickly became the home of the Durham Museum. The Union Pacific Museum and Archives were also moved there.
In 1997, Union Station was renovated. This included adding 22,000 square feet (about 2,044 square meters) and new climate controls for the museum. Today, the building is an important part of the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. It is near the Old Market Historic District and Omaha's Little Italy.
Images for kids
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Union Station in May 1980
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See also
In Spanish: Union Station (Omaha) para niños
