Union Station (Tacoma, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Passenger Station
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of station, on Pacific Avenue
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 Location in Washington (state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1713 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Charles A. Reed and Allen H. Stem |
| Part of | Union Depot – Warehouse Historic District (ID80004009) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001975 |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 1974 |
The Union Passenger Station in Tacoma, Washington, is a famous building that opened in 1911. It's known for its amazing copper dome, which makes it stand out in the city. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today, it's not a train station anymore. Instead, it's a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Contents
History of the Station Building
Tacoma became known as the "City of Destiny" in 1873. This happened when the Northern Pacific Railway chose it as the end point for their transcontinental railroad. The city quickly grew into a busy center for business and industry. Its population jumped from under 2,000 people in 1873 to over 37,000 by 1890.
Early Train Stations in Tacoma
Tacoma's first train station was built in 1883. As more people used trains, this station was moved and made bigger in 1892. It was placed at the same spot where the Union Station stands today. By 1906, Tacoma needed a grander station. The city was growing and wanted a building that showed its importance. The architecture firm Reed and Stem was chosen to design this new, impressive station.
Building the Union Station
Construction of the Union Station began in 1909. It was finished on May 1, 1911. People immediately loved Reed and Stem's design. The Tacoma Daily Ledger newspaper called it "the largest, the most modern and in all ways the most beautiful and best equipped passenger station in the Pacific Northwest."
Decline of Passenger Trains
Even with high hopes, the future of passenger trains changed. Train travel was most popular in the 1930s and during World War II. After that, fewer people rode trains because cars became very popular. In 1971, most national passenger train services joined together to form Amtrak. Amtrak moved its Tacoma offices to Seattle. They also built a new station in Tacoma. The very last passenger train left Union Station on June 14, 1984. The building was then left empty and started to fall apart.
New Life as a Courthouse
In 1987, the U.S. government decided to give Union Station a new purpose. They planned to use it as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. For three years, the historic building was completely fixed up and restored. A new three-story part was also added. The federal courts started using the building in 1992. This was a great way to save a famous Tacoma landmark.
Today, Union Station is no longer a train station. But it is still a source of pride for Tacoma. A much smaller light rail station is named after Union Station. It helps people travel around Tacoma for free.
Architecture and Design
Tacoma Union Station is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style combines grand beauty with smart use of space. The architects, Reed and Stem, were already famous for designing train stations. They were especially good at organizing space and how people moved through buildings. At the same time they built Union Station, they also helped design New York City's famous Grand Central Terminal.
The Famous Copper Dome
The most striking part of the building is its ninety-foot-high central dome. It shines brightly with copper and has four large decorations. The dome sits on a main section with big arched openings on each side. Flat-roofed sections stretch out from this main part. The outside of the building is made of strong concrete covered with red bricks. It also has limestone details. The main entrance doors are made of stained oak wood with bronze handles. A large window fills the arch above these doors.
Inside the Rotunda
The dome creates an amazing round room inside called the rotunda. Many visitors come to see it every day. When the building first opened in 1911, the skylight in the dome started to leak. This caused problems during Tacoma's rainy weather. The skylight was eventually covered, but the leaks and damage continued for decades. Because plaster was falling, the rotunda was closed to the public in the early 1980s.
When the building was renovated in the early 1990s, the dome was fixed. Workers brought in 40,000 pounds of new copper to cover it. Large holes in the plaster inside were carefully repaired. The skylight was also reopened.
Today, natural light fills the rotunda again. It now holds a beautiful collection of glass art by famous Tacoma artist Dale Chihuly. One of his most amazing pieces hangs from the center of the dome. It's a 20-foot blue chandelier made of over 2,700 blue glass globes. The rotunda also has old features like a big clock, marble water fountains, and wooden benches.
The original station also had cool features like a pneumatic tube system. This system used air pressure to send messages. There were also elevators between the rotunda and the baggage room. This meant travelers' luggage could be sent to the lobby using early 20th-century technology.
Changes for the Courthouse
Most of the old train tracks and platforms were removed when the building became a courthouse. A simple, three-story addition was built in 1992. This new part is located next to the original building. The two buildings are separated by a courtyard but connected inside.
The federal courts needed ten courtrooms. Two were made inside the old building's wings. The new addition provided eight more. These courtrooms are designed to be used for different types of court cases.
Union Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Six years later, the area around the station, called the Union Station Warehouse District, also became a historic district. The renovation of Union Station has won several awards.
Timeline of Union Station
- 1883: Tacoma's first train station is built.
- 1892: The station is moved and made bigger at the Pacific Avenue site.
- 1909–1911: Union Station is built where the old station was.
- 1940s–1960s: Fewer people ride trains as cars become popular.
- 1974: Union Station is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1980: The area around Union Station becomes a historic district.
- 1984: The last passenger train leaves Union Station, and the building is empty.
- 1987: The U.S. government decides to lease the building for 35 years.
- 1990–1992: Union Station is fixed up and turned into a courthouse. A new part is added.
- 2003: The Union Station/South 19th Street station opens for Tacoma Link light rail. This brings train service back to the area.
Facts About the Building
- Architects: Reed and Stem
- Renovation and Restoration: Merritt+Pardini with TRA (The Richardson Associates)
- Courthouse Addition: Merritt+Pardini and Bassetti Norton Metler Rekevics
- Construction Dates: 1909-1911; Courthouse addition: 1992
- Landmark Status: Listed in the National Register of Historic Places; part of the Union Depot-Warehouse Historic District
- Location: 1717 Pacific Avenue
- Architectural Style: Beaux-Arts
- Main Materials: Brick and concrete with a copper roof and limestone trim
- Special Features: Ninety-foot copper dome and a round room inside; Glass art by Tacoma artist Dale Chihuly
