National Register of Historic Places Standout: St. Louis Union Station

Mark Belloni

Feb 274 min read

Updated: 6 hours ago

St. Louis Union Station, a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark. The station features a large, ornate structure with a prominent clock tower on the left side and a series of arched windows and doorways along the front. The building has a red-tiled roof and intricate architectural details. In the foreground, there is a fountain with various bronze sculptures depicting figures in dynamic poses. The scene is set on a cloudy day, with some cars visible on the street in front of the station. — St. Louis Union Station, seen from across Market Street.

My father-in-law is a big St. Louis sports fan, so we try to make a trip to the city every year to catch a Cardinals or Blues game. Tradition dictates that we stay at the Union Station Hotel. The first time I visited, I was awestruck, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite historic sites in the country.

Completed in the Romanesque Revival style in 1894, St. Louis Union Station was, at the time, the largest train station in the world. At its peak in the 1940s, the station bustled with activity, with as many as 100,000 people passing through its halls each day. However, as air travel overtook rail as the dominant mode of transportation in the 1950s and 1960s, passenger numbers declined. By 1978, the last train departed, marking the end of the station’s role as a transportation hub.

Fortunately, St. Louis Union Station avoided the fate of many other grand train stations across the United States: demolition. Beginning in the 1980s and continuing through today, the station has undergone multiple stages of adaptive reuse and renovation. It now serves as a hotel and event center, and also houses several restaurants and tourist attractions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark since 1970, it remains one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in the nation.

Then and now photographs of a National Historic Landmark

My stays at the Union Station Hotel are usually spent wandering through the vast structure, exploring the original functions of each space. It wasn't long before I came across a copy of The St. Louis Union Station: A Monograph, published in 1895 by the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, the station's builders. The monograph serves as a tribute to the station’s opening, showcasing the scale and grandeur of the project.

Included in the monograph are stunning photographs of the station from its earliest days—taken almost immediately after construction was complete. Some of my favorites are below. I can lose myself in them for hours, imagining the station in its prime.

1895 photograph of the Grand Hall in St. Louis Union Station, now National Historic Landmark, showcasing Romanesque architecture with a vaulted ceiling, ornate arches, decorative patterns, and a large chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. The hall features arched windows, intricate wall designs, and a spacious floor area with period furnishings. — Grand Hall, 1895. To the left is the grand staircase leading down to the general waiting room and ticket office. In the foreground are the entrances to the women's waiting rooms.

Contemporary photograph of the Grand Hall in St. Louis Union Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing restored Romanesque architecture with vibrant colors, intricate patterns on the vaulted ceiling, and ornate archways. The space is furnished as a lounge with plush chairs, sofas, and tables. Decorative lighting fixtures, stained glass windows, and a bar area contribute to the modernized yet historically rich atmosphere. — Grand Hall today. Largely a lounge and bar area now, the barrel-vaulted ceiling is still awe-inspiring, being 65 feet tall at its highest point. The imposing iron chandelier seen in the 1895 photograph was sacrificed to the war effort during WWII.

1895 photograph of the smoking room at St. Louis Union Station. Interior view of a large, elegant room with high ceilings supported by ornate columns. The room features long, cushioned benches arranged in a U-shape around the columns. The walls have arched doorways and windows, and there are light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. The overall design suggests a historical or classical architectural style. — Smoking Room, 1895. Immediately west of the Grand Hall was the smoking room, also considered the men's waiting room.

A section of an elegant hotel lobby or lounge area with two large marble columns with ornate capitals. A glass display cabinet with decorative vases stands nearby, along with a row of high-backed armchairs separated by small tables and potted plants. The floor is covered with a patterned carpet, and recessed ceiling lights provide illumination. In the background, a person in a pink top and dark pants walks through an arched doorway. — Smoking Room today. The room has been partitioned to serve as the front desk area for the Union Station Hotel. The pillars help you orient yourself to the historic photograph.

An 1895 photograph of the ladies' waiting room in St. Louis Union Station. The room features ornate architectural details, including large columns with decorative capitals, arched doorways, and intricate wall designs. There are long rows of seating with high backs and armrests, divided by a central partition. The floor is tiled, and the ceiling has hanging light fixtures. The room appears spacious and elegantly designed, reflecting the grandeur of the era's train stations. — Ladies Waiting Room, 1895. This room, immediately off the Grand Hall, served as a place for women accompanied by men to wait on connections. Further to its east was a waiting room exclusively for women. Note the drinking fountain on the wall to the left and fireplace to the right.

The interior of a modern, stylish café or restaurant with a large glass wall separating the seating area from the kitchen or serving area. High chairs with teal cushions are lined up along a counter facing the glass wall. The floor has a red and white checkered tile pattern, and two large circular chandeliers with multiple light bulbs hang from the ceiling. Decorative columns with ornate capitals and potted plants enhance the elegant and inviting atmosphere. — Ladies Waiting Room today. The room now serves as the hotel cafe.

An 1895 photograph of the general waiting room in St. Louis Union Station. The image shows a large, open space with high ceilings supported by ornate columns. There are several staircases leading to upper levels, and a few pieces of furniture, including a rocking chair, scattered throughout the room. The architecture is grand and detailed, reflecting the design aesthetics of the late 19th century. The room appears to be empty, highlighting the spaciousness and grandeur of the station's interior. — General Waiting Room, 1895. This space was located directly below the Grand Hall, the grand staircase to the left leading up to it. The ticket office can be seen located on the far wall; beyond the office was a barber shop, second class waiting room, and lavatories.

The general waiting room in St. Louis Union Station. The spacious interior has a green ceiling and hexagonal floor tiles. Ornate columns with decorative capitals and black bases support the ceiling. Multiple hanging light fixtures with round, white globes illuminate the room. A grand staircase in the background leads to a higher level, with restroom signs visible on either side. The walls are adorned with framed photographs, and curtains cover some areas. The design reflects the grandeur of the late 19th century. — General Waiting Room today. Much of the space has been partitioned and serves as meeting, event, and conference space.

A black and white photograph from 1895 showing a crowded midway at St. Louis Union Station. The image depicts a large number of people, both men and women, dressed in period clothing, gathered in the station. The station's architecture features arched windows and a high ceiling with exposed trusses. Various signs are visible, including one for 'M&O Excursion' and another indicating 'Track 18.' The scene captures the bustling atmosphere of the station during that time period. — The Midway, 1895. The Midway was the platform located between the head house and train shed. Signs can be seen to the right for the different railroads serving the station. The exit to 18th Street can be seen in the distance.

An indoor space with a high glass ceiling and a tiled floor. The area is spacious and well-lit, with natural light coming through the glass roof. Several potted plants are arranged in the center and along the sides of the walkway. On the left side, there's a sign that reads 'GRAND HALL' above a doorway. On the right side, there's a sign that reads 'MIDWAY SUITE XI' above another doorway. The architecture features a mix of modern and historical elements, with exposed metal beams and brick walls. — The Midway today. It's often used to hold events and conferences.

An 1895 photograph of the St. Louis Union Station Midway seen from the 18th street entrance. The image shows a large, open space with a high, glass-paneled roof supported by metal trusses. The view is framed by an arched stone entrance with ornate iron gates. The Midway is lined with arched windows and doorways on both sides, leading to various rooms and facilities within the station. The photograph captures the grandeur and architectural detail of the station, highlighting its significance as a major transportation hub in the late 19th century. — The Midway viewed from the 18th Street exit, 1895. The "avenue of bumpers" for arriving and departing trains can be seen to the left, separated from the midway by an iron fence. Entrances to the head house can be seen on the right. This photo shows the entire span of the midway; the exit to 20th Street can be seen in the far distance.

The interior of a large, open, industrial-style building with a high ceiling and exposed metal beams. The ceiling has large skylights allowing natural light to illuminate the space. There are multiple levels with railings and staircases, and the floor is made of brick. The space is decorated with plants and has a modern, airy feel. There are also several light fixtures hanging from the ceiling and mounted on posts. The overall atmosphere is spacious and well-lit — The Midway from 18th Street today. Like the chandelier in the Grand Hall, the iron fence separating the avenue of bumpers from the midway was given to the war effort during WWII.

An 1895 photograph of the exterior of St. Louis Union Station, which is still slightly under construction. The image shows a large, ornate building with a tall clock tower and multiple arched windows. There are construction materials and scaffolding visible around the building, indicating ongoing work. The street in front of the station is empty, with visible tram tracks and a few utility poles. The architecture is notable for its Romanesque Revival style, characterized by the use of stone, rounded arches, and intricate detailing. — St. Louis Union Station exterior, 1895. Still slightly under construction, the exterior of the station can be seen here from across Market Street. The three large archways in the foreground were entrances into the carriage concourse, where travelers could be dropped off or picked up.

St. Louis Union Station, a historic and ornate building with a tall clock tower and red-tiled roofs. The building features intricate stonework and arched windows. The street in front of the station is mostly empty, with a few parked vehicles, including a blue pickup truck. The building is decorated with large holiday wreaths, indicating a festive season. The sky is overcast, and there is a faint sun visible through the clouds. Snow is visible on the ground and on the rooftops. — St. Louis Union Station exterior today. The carriage concourse has long since been sealed up. The exterior of the building is faced with Bedford (Indiana) limestone. Interestingly, the red tile roof is not original—when built in 1895, it was gray.

Walking through Union Station today, it's incredible to see how much of its historic grandeur remains, thanks to decades of preservation and adaptive reuse. What was once the largest train station in the world is now a living landmark, offering visitors the chance to experience history firsthand. Whether you’re staying at the hotel, exploring the attractions, or simply marveling at the architecture, Union Station is a testament to the value of preserving the past—and a reminder of why historic places matter.

If you’re curious to learn more about the process of getting a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, check out my National Register services.

National Register of Historic Places Standout: St. Louis Union Station

Then and now photographs of a National Historic Landmark

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