Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The History of Union Station
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 16, 2011
1. The History of Union Station Marker
Inscription.
The History of Union Station. . Union Station opened in 1898 as the passenger terminal for the Illinois Central (IC) Railroad. Francis T. Bacon, an IC architect, designed the station, adorning the brick structure with decorative terra cotta and topping it with a 110-foot-tall clock tower. The present tower is a reconstruction of the original, which was removed in 1946.
Vacated by the railroad in 1971, Union Station was rehabilitated by the Scully Family in 1985 for retail use. The State of Illinois leased the former train station for offices beginning in 1990, eventually purchasing the building in 1999.
A rehabilitation designed by White and Borgognoni Architects that began in 205 returned the station to its turn-of-the-century appearance. Union Station is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Union Station opened in 1898 as the passenger terminal for the Illinois Central (IC) Railroad. Francis T. Bacon, an IC architect, designed the station, adorning the brick structure with decorative terra cotta and topping it with a 110-foot-tall clock tower. The present tower is a reconstruction of the original, which was removed in 1946.
Vacated by the railroad in 1971, Union Station was rehabilitated by the Scully Family in 1985 for retail use. The State of Illinois leased the former train station for offices beginning in 1990, eventually purchasing the building in 1999.
A rehabilitation designed by White & Borgognoni Architects that began in 205 returned the station to its turn-of-the-century appearance. Union Station is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 39° 48.213′ N, 89° 38.912′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. Marker can be reached from N. 5th Street. Marker is in front of the station between 5th & 6th Streets in the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Springfield IL 62701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 449 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
