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Union Station

Capitol Hill and the east · 51 photographs

Union Station

Daniel Burnham's great terminal of 1907 and its plaza, the city's front door.

A large plaza with a fountain, flags and crowds seen from above — 1919 The Union Station plaza decorated for Pershing's arrival with the First Division, 1919, with the Columbus Fountain at the centre.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 30897 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

History

Union Station replaced two separate railway stations, one of them on the Mall, as the McMillan plan proposed. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it received its first train in October 1907 and was completed in 1908, with a vast waiting room and a “Presidential Suite” for official visitors. In 1912 the Columbus Fountain by Lorado Taft was dedicated in the plaza in front.

In the war years troops passed through in great numbers, and visiting dignitaries, conventions and inaugural crowds arrived here.

What's there now

The station is Amtrak’s second-busiest, also serving commuter trains and the Metro, with shops in the renovated halls. It was restored and reopened in 1988, after years of decline.

Then and now

The facade, the plaza and the Columbus Fountain are much as they were in 1912. The plaza that in these photographs is full of streetcars, taxicabs and horse cabs is now a traffic circle and bus stop, and the great hall has shops where the benches were.

Photographs 51, oldest first

A steam locomotive on curving tracks beside a long platform canopy — c. 1906–10 A steam locomotive comes in under the platform sheds through the fan of tracks in the Union Station switch yards.Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress · LC-D4-15616 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A long white station building across an open area of rough ground and paths — c. 1907–10 The newly finished Union Station stands on open, raw ground, a factory chimney on the skyline, around 1907-1910.Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress · LC-D4-39991 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

People in heavy coats walking out of the arched entrance of Union Station — Late February or early March 1909 Visitors arriving at Union Station for Taft's inauguration in 1909.Date checked: The Library's date, February 29, 1909, did not exist (1909 was not a leap year); the crowds came for Taft's inauguration on March 4, 1909.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · PRES FILE - Taft, William H.--Inauguration [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Crowd of people in coats and hats outside the arched entrance of Union Station — 1909 Crowds pour out of Union Station's arches on their way to William Howard Taft's inauguration in March 1909.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 662-9 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Rows of uniformed guardsmen standing in the plaza in front of Union Station — 1909 The Ohio National Guard lines up in the plaza outside Union Station for Taft's inauguration.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 662-11 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Streetcar tracks leading along a wide road to a long station building — c. 1910 Looking down the streetcar tracks of Delaware Avenue toward Union Station, about 1910.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12359-1-T [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Soldiers marching past a bunting-covered reviewing stand — 1912 Troops march past the reviewing stand, where President Taft takes the salute, at the Columbus Fountain dedication, June 8, 1912.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2497-5 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A decorated float pulled by a team of horses before the arched front of Union Station — 1912 A horse-drawn float passes in front of Union Station in the parade at the unveiling of the Columbus Memorial, 1912.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 1413 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A garlanded pavilion with people on a stand — 1912 The decorated speakers' stand where President Taft spoke at the dedication of the Columbus Memorial, 1912.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 1414 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A white marble fountain with a statue, framed by large American flags — June 1912 Lorado Taft's Columbus Fountain, dressed with flags, is readied for its dedication in front of Union Station in June 1912.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2497-4 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A grandstand hung with bunting and flags filled with spectators — June 8, 1912 The flag-draped reviewing stand in the Union Station plaza at the dedication of the Columbus Fountain, June 8, 1912.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2497-6 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A horse-drawn parade float in front of the long white facade of Union Station — June 8, 1912 A Knights of Columbus float, "Columbus before the King", passes Union Station during the fountain's dedication parade, June 8, 1912.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2497-10 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A horse-drawn float and crowd in front of the arched facade of Union Station — c. 1910–15 The Knights of Columbus float crosses the station plaza, with Union Station's arches behind.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2497-11 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A huge empty hall with a vaulted glass and steel roof and gates along one side — c. 1905–20 The vast, empty train concourse at Union Station, its skylit roof stretching into the distance.Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress · LC-D4-36798 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A large stone statue in an archway of an unfinished station, scaffolding alongside — c. 1910–17 A carved statue stands in an arched bay of Union Station while the building is still under construction, timber and scaffolding at its feet.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 1790 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A long colonnaded stone building with a flagpole on a wide plaza — c. 1908–20 The new City Post Office beside Union Station, a long colonnaded building completed in 1914.Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress · LC-D419-32 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A row of early motor taxis beneath a vaulted stone arch — 1914 Federal Taxicab Company cabs wait under the great arch of Union Station's carriage porch, 1914.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3758 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Early motor taxicabs parked beside a long stone building — 1914 A rank of Federal taxicabs along the side of Union Station, 1914.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3759 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A fountain with flagpoles in front of an arched station — 1914 The Columbus Memorial fountain and the front of Union Station under three flags, 1914.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 4953 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Three flags on tall poles above a monument before the arched front of a station — 1914 Three flags fly above the new Columbus Memorial fountain in front of Union Station, 1914.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 7026 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Women in white Red Cross uniforms standing in a row — c. 1910–20 Red Cross canteen workers at Union Station during the First World War.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 10094 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Red Cross women with a cart beside a railway shed — c. 1910–20 The American Red Cross canteen beside the tracks at Union Station, serving troops in the First World War.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 10100 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Two women in white Red Cross uniforms passing a sack up to soldiers at a train window — c. 1910–20 Red Cross canteen women hand a mail sack up to soldiers leaning from the windows of a train at Union Station.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 10103 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A long colonnaded station front beside a street with a streetcar — c. 1913–17 The front of Union Station along Massachusetts Avenue, with a streetcar and a few motor cars, 1910s.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3534 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

View from a rooftop over a broad plaza with flagpoles, a fountain and parked cars — c. 1910–20 Motor cars and a streetcar circle the Union Station plaza around the Columbus Memorial and its flagpoles.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H25- 2671 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A huge vaulted hall with rows of benches, light flooding in from arched windows — c. 1910–20 Rows of long wooden benches fill the vast, coffered waiting room of Union Station.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H25- 3007 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Cars parked in a row beside the station's arcade — c. 1911–20 Motor cars and taxis lined up at Union Station, 1910s.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3279-B [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A large marble monument with a statue of Columbus before an arched station building — c. 1914–18 The Columbus Memorial fountain stands before the arches of Union Station.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 8023 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

The Capitol dome seen far off through a dark stone archway, a man walking in silhouette — 1917 The Capitol dome framed by one of Union Station's great entrance arches in 1917, a lone figure walking out into the plaza.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 6659 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Three tall flagpoles flying British, American and French flags before Union Station — 1917 British, American and French flags fly before Union Station in 1917, awaiting the arrival of Balfour's Allied commission.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 8560 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Crowds and mounted police beside the tall columns of a railway station — 1917 Crowds and mounted police outside Union Station as the British commission arrives in Washington in 1917.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 8562 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Many railway tracks leading to signal gantries, a smoking locomotive at left — c. 1910–25 A steam locomotive puffs out of the haze under the signal gantries of the Union Station rail yards.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 648 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A wide empty avenue leading to a long station building — c. 1910–26 The plaza in front of Union Station, with the station at the end of the avenue.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 1069 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A man waving his hat from an open car beneath a stone arch, a policeman in front — c. 1918–19 Theodore Roosevelt raises his hat from an open motor car under the arches of Union Station as onlookers cheer.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 1269 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Crowd of people beneath the great stone arches of a station — c. 1919 A crowd outside the arches of Union Station, about 1919.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 30855 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A man suspended by ropes high on a tall ornate flagpole, Union Station behind — c. 1915–23 A worker dangles from a rope high on a flagpole in the Union Station plaza while two men steady the lines below.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H27- A-1078 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A fountain with tall flagpoles in front of an arched station facade — c. 1920 Union Station beyond the Columbus Fountain and its three flagpoles, about 1920.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12359-1-T [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Marchers with a drum, flags and a lettered banner in front of a large arched station — March 29, 1920 Hungarian marchers with drums, flags and a banner backing "self determination of small nations" parade before Union Station, March 29, 1920. place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 7258 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A row of trucks parked beside a large colonnaded stone building — November 29, 1920 Post Office motor trucks line up beside the new City Post Office building for a parade, November 29, 1920. place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 10617 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Men in a foundry room handling molten metal — c. 1909–32 Workers pour molten metal into moulds at the Government Printing Office. place uncertainNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12356-8 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

An open motor car with uniformed men at a stone arcade — c. 1909–32 An official government motor car under the arches of Union Station.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12350-1 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A huge empty station concourse under a long coffered vaulted roof — c. 1921–22 The vast coffered train concourse of Union Station, almost empty, early 1920s.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 7987 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Aerial view of a large station and train sheds, crowds gathered in the plaza in front — c. 1921–22 Union Station and its train sheds from the air, early 1920s, with crowds ringing the plaza around the Columbus Fountain.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F82- 8107 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A flag at half mast seen through a stone arch, a car below — 1923 The flag flies at half mast beyond one of Union Station's arches in 1923, a motor car passing.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 25683 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A crowd gathered beside a great arch and tall columns topped with eagles — August 30, 1924 Crowds wait outside Union Station for the Prince of Wales on August 30, 1924, beneath the plaza's tall eagle-topped columns.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 32353 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A crowd and hearse under a great arch — December 16, 1924 The body of Samuel Gompers, founder of the American Federation of Labor, is carried from Union Station, December 16, 1924.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 33583 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Soldiers on horseback with a horse-drawn gun carriage in front of Union Station — December 16, 1924 A mounted escort and caisson carry the body of labour leader Samuel Gompers away from Union Station, December 16, 1924.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 33585 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

High view over rooftops and wartime dormitories toward the railway station — c. 1919–30 The view north from the Capitol to the Government Printing Office, the City Post Office and Union Station, 1920s.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12357-6 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

A crowd of men and women on a plaza with tall columns topped by eagles — 1925 A crowd gathers on the Union Station plaza in 1925 among the lamp posts and flag columns.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H234- A-9837 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Men carrying a flag-draped coffin to a hearse at a stone arcade — July 30, 1925 The coffin of William Jennings Bryan is carried from Union Station, July 30, 1925.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 36660 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Nearby: The Capitol · The Library of Congress · Downtown and F Street · Center Market · The Mall