Union Station Timeline

Union Station Timeline. , 1881: Union Depot, constructed in the High Victorian Eclectic style, opened on June 1 at a cost of $525,000 , 1883: On November 18, the railroads instituted a time zone system specifically to keep trans on time at Union Depot and across the country. , 1892: 1892: Union Depot expanded with one-story wings added on each side. , 1894: An electrical short in a chandelier caused a fire, destroying the tower, main wing, and roof. , 1895: Depot and tower were rebuilt and expanded in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. , 1906: Welcome Arch dedicated. In 1908, it was renamed the “Mizpah Arch,” which is Hebrew for “May God be with you until we meet again.” The Arch was 70 tons of steel, 65 feet tall, 86 feet wide, and lit by 1,294 light bulbs. , 1912: Cherry Creek flooded Union Depot. , 1914: Central section of Union Depot enlarged in Renaissance Revival Beaux Arts style and renamed Union Station. , 1920: New dining room built. , 1923: North tunnel and wing extension built for mail express facility. , 1931: “Mitzpah Arch” deemed traffic hazard, removed, and sold for scrap. , 1933: Castlewood Canyon Dam on Cherry Creek failed and flooded Union Station. , 1935: Model railroad club began to build display in Union Station basement. , 1940: Ski train began service from Denver to Winter Park. , 1945: At the height of World War II, 80 passenger trains came through Union Station each day. , 1950: Dining room remodeled into Continental Room and Caboose Lounge. , 1953: Iconic “Union Station Travel by Train” red neon signs installed. , 1958: Stapleton Air Field surpassed Union Station for annual travelers. U.S. Postal Service Terminal Annex constructed. , 1967: On average, 23 passenger trains came through Union Station every day. , 1971: Amtrak took over operation of passenger service at Union Station. , 1974: Union Station listed in the National Register of Historic Places. , 1982-86: Tracks 6 through 12 removed behind station. , 1987: North and south end wings of the building removed, sparking public outcry. , 1988: Plans to demolish Union Station and move it near stockyards abandoned. , 1992: Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days Train service revived. , 1995-00: Orient Express luxury train excursion service operated out of station. , 2001: RTD bought Union Station with help from City and County of Denver, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Denver Regional Council of Governments. , 2004: Voters approved funding of RTD’s FasTracks rail network. Union Station named a landmark historic district by Denver Landmark Preservation Commission. , 2009: Last Ski Train departed from Union Station. , 2010: Construction of new commuter rail station started. , 2012: Denver Union Station Light Rail Plaza opened. , 2014: Revitalized Union Station, including new bus concourse and Crawford Hotel, opened.