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.