Old Town in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Union Station and the Santa Fe
1914
1911
The City Commission forced the railroads to elevate the East Douglas tracks, which solved the problem of having the Santa Fe, Rock Island and Frisco lines crossing and often blocking the street. It also proposed that a single, or unified, station serve all the lines.
1914
Union Station opened at a cost of $2.5 million and served Wichita in grand style. The building was a hub of activity, where travelers and their loved ones gathered in the huge lobby for cheerful welcomes and emotional farewells. Union Station closed in 1980.
Santa Fe
Wichita was named a city in 1870 but growth was threatened when Santa Fe Railway chose not to build south of Newton in 1871. James Mead immediately wrote the company and Santa Fe offered to extend its tracks to Wichita for a price: $200,000 in county bonds and the establishment of a local company to handle operations.
In less than three months the Wichita and Southwestern Railroad Co. formed with Mead as president while county residents voted for the bonds. The local company soon became part of the Santa Fe system.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 37° 41.239′ N, 97° 19.663′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Old Town. Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on the plaza immediately north of the Museum of World Treasures. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 835 East 1st Street, Wichita KS 67202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oldtown Marketplace (here, next to this marker); Warehouse District (here, next to this marker); Riding the Rails (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company / Hockaday Paint Company (here, next to this marker); Coleman Company (here, next to this marker); Johnson-Frazier Building / Cox Produce Company (here, next to this marker); Innes Wholesale Furniture / City Ice Delivery (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.
Also see . . .
1. Union Station (Wichita, Kansas). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 22, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Great Plains Transportation Museum, Wichita. Website homepage (Submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society. Repaired unsafe link; 12/22/2023 LPG. (Submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 473 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.