No matter where your next RV adventure takes you, there’s probably a wonderful train station along your route.
Whether it’s a grand megalopolis station or a small local depot, each train station is unique and special because it tells a story about our country’s history. These are places where bold civic ambition met architecture; where marble and tile still hold stories of migration, commerce, and travel.
Let’s look at five train stations. Each of these stations is located in areas that offer many, many things to see and do. I hope you’ll take time to visit these historic train stations along with other nearby attractions. Why? Because each station has the potential to roll back time to the days when trains ruled the travel industry.
William H. Gray III, Pennsylvania’s 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia’s train station was originally designed by a Chicago firm (Graham, Anderson, Probst and White). Built for the Pennsylvania Railroad between the late 1920s and 1933, the station replaced the aging 1881 Broad Street train station. The 30th Street Station’s serious Neoclassical exterior architecture is complemented by the Art Deco concourse and interior finishes.
The name, William H. Gray III, was added to the 30th Street Station in honor of the Pennsylvania congressman who represented the Commonwealth from 1979-1991.
This station is one of Amtrak’s busiest hubs, running up to 100,000 passengers each day traveling to New York, Washington, D.C., and beyond.
The railroad does not offer guided tours. However, the building is a regular stop on architectural and history walking tours around Philadelphia. See this website for tour choices.
Santa Fe Depot, San Diego, California
Designed by Bakewell & Brown, the Santa Fe Depot was completed in 1915 for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. This downtown depot is a great example of Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival architecture. Twin tiled domes and a grand, arched entry welcome visitors and are instantly recognizable as San Diego landmarks.
Today, the Santa Fe Depot remains an active hub for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, along with other local carriers. Guided architectural walks and local history tours often stop here. When you choose a tour, make sure the Santa Fe Depot is included.
Sunset Station, San Antonio, Texas
The ornate “Sunset Station” was built in 1902–1903 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Its Spanish Mission and Spanish Renaissance styling proudly features stucco walls and tiled roof lines.
Today, Sunset Station is known as the Espee. The name is taken from “S.P.,” the initials for the Southern and Pacific Railroad. While the area has been repurposed as an event and entertainment complex, the original train station remains. (Amtrak moved operations in 1998 to a smaller, adjacent depot that handles daily service.)
Sunset Station earned nicknames like “the Building of 1,000 Lights” for its elaborate interior lighting and became a South Texas civic showpiece. The station’s richly detailed interior and its location near the Alamodome make it a local icon.
Guided tours of the historic depot are occasionally offered by local heritage groups and during the city’s special events. Volunteers from the San Antonio railroad heritage community also run occasional open-house programs.
Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri
Designed by Jarvis Hunt for the Kansas City Terminal Railway in 1914, Union Station is a marvel, with its ornate design and French-inspired elements (Beaux-Arts architecture). The Grand Hall’s soaring ceiling, massive chandeliers, iconic clock, and an 850,000-square-foot footprint are quite amazing to see.
Union Station still serves as an Amtrak station. However, parts of the massive, original station have been reimagined as a cultural and family destination. It now includes dedicated spaces for Science City, a planetarium, rotating exhibitions, restaurants, and event space. (Don’t worry. The station’s historic grandeur remains well-preserved.)
The station runs visitor programming, and the official site supports group and “behind-the-scenes” visits. There are also independent guided walking tours and audio/voicemap tours that cover the building’s history and architecture. For more information, check this website.
Union Station, Portland, Oregon
Union Station in Portland was completed in 1896 and underwent renovations in the late 1920s. The station blends Romanesque and Florentine-type architecture and is famous for its 150-foot, red-tiled clock tower, which serves as a popular city landmark. Inside the station’s historic waiting room, you’ll see a beautifully designed ceiling with original chandeliers.
Portland’s Union Station is an active Amtrak terminal serving several routes. Guided walking tours through Old Town and Portland architecture programs often include the station. Local preservation organizations and tourism operators sometimes offer docent or themed walks that stop at the terminal.
Why so many “Union Stations”?
Have you noticed that many train stations throughout the U.S. are called “Union Station”? That’s because many railroad companies joined together to build the stations and shared the same facilities. This made it easier for passengers to make connections from one train carrier to another (similar to today’s air terminals that host a variety of carriers). The “Union Station” name became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as rail travel expanded across the United States.
Quick tips for visiting
- Plan for parking (downtown stations often have paid lots or nearby city garages).
- Approach the stations on foot so that you can enjoy the exterior façades and plazas.
- If you want interior photos, check station hours and be mindful of passenger flows.
- Join a local walking tour or contact the regional preservation organization if you want an interpretive visit. Many stations host special events, exhibitions, or holiday light displays that make for memorable stops along the highway.
Have you ever visited a train station while RVing? Tell us about it using the comments below.
RELATED
- Trains were my father’s gift—and now they’re mine
- The best Eastern U.S. railroad destinations for train lovers
- Ghost trains, Mt. Katahdin and more in wild Maine
- Train buffs’ bucket list trip: A visit to Golden Spike Tower
- “They gave us earplugs at check-in.” Why are so many RV parks near train tracks?
RVT1236
My husband is a train nut so we have been to most of the great stations in North America. Our very favorite is Union Station in Cincinnati. It is an Art Deco station originally built in 1933 and totally restored in 2018. Now it is a very nice museum with plenty of parking and there are lots of other attractions within a short walk. The station has a huge mural representing the industrial history of Cincinnati.
Thanks for sharing that information, Sherry! Cincinnati’s Union Station is going on my “must see” list. Thanks again!
There are also old US Post Offices that are interesting to visit.
Nice article! We love trains, and their stations, so have been to these and others – great choices!
Great article! There is a little train depot museum in Dennison, OH. With a nod to WWII and sending our men off to war, it’s fascinating how this little depot played a part.
https://dennisondepot.org/
There are several other interesting places to visit in the area.
Redfield, South Dakota has a great little museum set up in their old Chicago & Northwestern train station, well worth the visit.
We tend to like the old small town train stations. Many are now converted into local museums. You can still view old hand written ledgers and view the tools of the RR man’s trade.
If you like viewing old trains and RR history, the huge train museum near Lancaster, PA is well worth your time. We also took a nice ride there in an original restored 1st class car under power by a steam engine.
https://www.rrmuseumpa.org/
Don’t miss Chicago Union, St. Paul, Mn Union and King Street station in Seattle. These are all currently serving Amtrak. Huge and built for large crowds – unlike most older airports which try to cram 1,000 passengers into a haul way space! I know times changed. (Fargo ND has a very nice airport which replaced the small 2nd or 3rd original ones, also had a very nice Great Northern and also a Northern Pacific RR stns. Neither is used any longer by Amtrak. NP is a Sr. center and the GN stn is bike shop!).
Chicago’s Union Station is also a beautiful place to see along with St. Louis’ Union Station Both served for years as the hub of transport is the midwest and upper midwest. The five you mentioned are also top-notch attractions. Being almost 81 years old I remember very well taking train trips. One from Milwaukee, WI to Chicago, IL, then St. Louis, MO and Altus, Oklahoma. A change to a 1 “puddle jumper” [engine/baggage/passengers all in one car] to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Olustee, Oklahoma. Lots of changes in scenery that you don’t get by plane.
I must add that in 1990 my wife, son, and mother-in-law took a 27-day trip traveling by train from Milwukaee to Chicago, Chicago to San Francisco [wonderful views of boat trips on the colorado river] for a week, down to Los Angeles for a week, four nights in San Diego,, and then a return on the “Sunset Limited” on the Santa Fe route from L.A. to Chicago. That would be my most memorable trip. Well, 89 days by RV to Alaska in 2005 is right up there, too.