Union Station, Tacoma

Union Station is a major reminder of the area’s railroad past. Completed in 1911 for the Northern Pacific Railway, it reflected a time when passenger rail shaped trade, travel, and civic growth across the Pacific Northwest. Designed by Reed and Stem, also linked to New York’s Grand Central Terminal, the building was planned as a grand public space, not just a place to catch a train.

The building’s Beaux-Arts character appears in its balanced plan, broad arches, red brick, limestone trim, and large copper dome. Inside, the 90-foot-high rotunda creates a strong sense of space, with an exterior copper shell and a separate interior plaster dome supported by hidden steelwork. Its curved surfaces also give the room notable acoustics, reinforcing its role as a public gathering space as well as a train station.

Passenger service ended in the 1980s, and the building was later restored as a federal courthouse. Visitors can still see parts of the interior, including Dale Chihuly’s glass works, such as the chandelier beneath the dome, the Monarch Window, and wall pieces inspired by basket forms and regional craft traditions. Its use as a film location before restoration adds another layer to its story.