Saint Louis Union Station, Saint Louis

Saint Louis Union Station, Saint Louis

St. Louis Union Station is a former passenger train terminal, originally opened in 1894. Designed by Theodore Link, it was the largest station in the world to have tracks and passenger service areas all on one level. In 1903, the station was expanded to accommodate visitors to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Throughout its busiest peak, in the 1940s, the station handled 100,000 people a day, combining the St. Louis passenger services of 22 railroads, the most of any single terminal on the planet. The 1940s expansion had, among other things, a mural by Louis Grell added, which could be seen atop the customer waiting area, depicting the history of St. Louis with an old fashion steam engine, two large steamboats and the Eads Bridge in the background.

As airliners became the primary mode of long-distance travel in the 1950s and 1960s, the massive station became obsolete and too expensive to maintain for its original purpose. By 1961, several tracks had been paved over for parking.

St. Louis Union Station was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, and the last Amtrak passenger train left here in 1978.

In the 1980s, the station was converted into a hotel, shopping center, and entertainment complex. The former – Marriott Hotel – is housed in the headhouse and part of the train shed, which also accommodates a lake and shopping, entertainment and dining establishments. Located on the upper level of the train shed, the Memories Museum features artifacts and displays about the history of the station itself and rail travel in the United States.

Why You Should Visit:
The Grand Hall is magnificent with statues, stained glass and the "whispering arches" at the front door.

Tip:
A light show happens every hour, from 5-11pm. It is on the ceiling of the historic Grand Hall. There are comfortable seats and a full-service bar.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Saint Louis. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Saint Louis Union Station on Map

Sight Name: Saint Louis Union Station
Sight Location: Saint Louis, USA (See walking tours in Saint Louis)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Saint Louis, Missouri

Create Your Own Walk in Saint Louis

Create Your Own Walk in Saint Louis

Creating your own self-guided walk in Saint Louis is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

Saint Louis, Missouri, is a perfect destination for those with a taste for great architecture, especially if it is associated with an important spiritual value. Indeed, this city features some of the most famous and interesting churches in the USA.

One such landmark is the Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church. A stunning example of Mannerism architecture, it has been a spiritual hub for the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Saint Louis Downtown Walking Tour

Saint Louis Downtown Walking Tour

Missouri's main city, St. Louis, is a prominent metropolis renowned for its cultural diversity, vibrancy and art. Ahead of the Europeans, the area of today's St. Louis was inhabited by the Native American Mississippian tribes.

French fur traders, who settled on the territory in 1764, named it for King Louis IX of France. That same year, the land was ceded to Spain, and in 1800, was...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Forest Park Walking Tour

Forest Park Walking Tour

Forest Park, a massive urban park in Saint Louis, offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Renowned for its multiple entertaining and educational facilities, such as museums, zoo, and green areas, it is often and quite deservedly regarded as one of the city's crown jewels – an ideal location for a great time out! Let's see what you can find on the...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles