Union Station (Owensboro, Kentucky) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Union Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front and northern side
Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1039 Frederica St., Owensboro, Kentucky
Built	1905
Architect	John Bacon Hutchings, Henry Franklin Hawes
Architectural style	Victorian
NRHP reference No.	79000969
Added to NRHP	August 01, 1979

The Union Station in Owensboro, Kentucky, is a really old and important train station. It was built way back in 1905. This station was mostly used by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, which was a big train company. It's made from strong limestone and slate. Today, instead of trains, you'll find different businesses inside!

What Does Union Station Look Like?

Union Station was built in a more open area, unlike many city train stations. On its west side, there was a large waiting area for passengers. The east side had a two-story section used for freight, which means goods and cargo.

The station has a unique "Gothic" style. This look comes from its wooden decorations and brackets around the main entrance. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad company used the second floor of the building for their offices. They also managed their train services from there.

A Journey Through Time: Union Station's History

Early Railroads in Owensboro

The very first train company in Owensboro was the Owensboro and Russellville Railroad. It operated trains from 1867 to 1876. After that company faced difficulties, the Owensboro and Nashville Railroad took over. Then, in 1879, the big Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) bought them out.

Building the New Station

Union Station was a team effort. The L&N worked with the Louisville, Henderson and St. Louis Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. They built the new station right over an older train depot. Henry F. Hawes and John B. Hutchings designed the plans. Walter Brashear was the builder. The main construction finished in 1906.

Busy Days at the Station

In the 1920s, Union Station was very busy! At its peak, eighteen passenger trains stopped there every single day. In 1946, two L&N trains would stop in Owensboro. These trains traveled between St. Louis, Evansville, Owensboro, and Louisville.

Changes Over the Years

In 1958, the station stopped being used for passenger trains. The L&N company said they were losing a lot of money each year by keeping the passenger service going. Since then, the building has been used for many different things.

In the 1970s, it was a discothèque, which is a dance club. After that, it became a pizza parlor. But both of these businesses didn't last long, and the station was empty for a while. The building got big makeovers in 1982 and 1988. The 1988 renovation added a two-story open space called an atrium and new offices on its east side. Today, the station is home to a preschool, a group that designs buildings, a day care for adults, and a financial office.