The Jacksonville Terminal’s history

The Jacksonville Terminal. | Ennis Davis, AICP

The Jacksonville Terminal, a Neoclassical Revival–style rail complex designed by architect Kenneth M. Murchison, opened on November 17, 1919, as a grand gateway to Florida. Its façade featured fourteen Doric columns, and its main waiting room boasted 75-foot vaulted ceilings. At its peak in 1944, the terminal saw nearly 40,000 trains and 10 million passengers annually. However, the rise of air travel and Amtrak’s consolidation of passenger rail services in 1971 drastically reduced its use. By 1973, operations had dwindled to a few Amtrak trains, and the terminal closed on January 3, 1974. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1985, it reopened as the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.

The Jacksonville Terminal in 1921. | State Archives of Florida

Denver’s Union Station

1701 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202

Denver’s Union Station. | Visit Denver

Denver’s Union Station, a Beaux-Arts style railroad terminal built in the early 20th century, was once a bustling hub with over 80 daily trains during its peak in the 1920s and 1930s. However, like many stations across the U.S., its importance declined with the reduction of passenger rail traffic in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 2001, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) acquired Union Station and its rail yards, launching a transformative redevelopment plan. The Union Station Neighborhood Company was selected as the master developer.

By 2006, the site was reimagined as a $500 million multimodal transportation hub integrating bus rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and intercity rail. With Hargreaves Associates and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill serving as the architects, construction began in 2010, with phased openings of various components: a light rail station in 2011, an underground 22-gate bus concourse in 2014, and commuter rail services in 2016.

The historic terminal, reopened in 2014, now features a train hall, the 112-room Crawford Hotel, and a vibrant mix of restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. The surrounding area has seen over $1 billion in private development in recent years, including offices, residences, hotels, and retail, solidifying Union Station as a dynamic urban destination.

Inside Denver’s Union Station. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Tampa Union Station

601 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

An exterior view of Tampa Union Station. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Located between Downtown Tampa and Ybor City, Tampa Union Station was designed by Joseph F. Leitner and opened by the Tampa Union Station Company on May 15, 1912. Originally, the station combined the passenger operations of the Tampa Northern, Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line railroads at a single site. Although added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the station was closed in 1984. It reopened to serve Amtrak in 1998 after successful efforts to rehabilitate the structure.

An interior view of Tampa Union Station. | Events at Union Station

Raleigh Union Station

510 West Martin Street, Raleigh, NC 27603

An exterior view of Raleigh Union Station. | Raleigh Union Station Facebook

Located near downtown Raleigh’s Depot Historic District, train service at the Raleigh Union Station began on July 10, 2018. The station was first proposed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in 2011 and intended to replace a smaller existing Amtrak station in the city. With Clearspaces Architecture +Art as the architect, station and track design was completed in 2014. Utilizing an existing mid-century industrial steel fabricated warehouse, the station was designed to accommodate expansion to serve future commuter rail and high speed rail systems when they eventually materialize. In January 2016, construction began on the 26,000 square foot, $110.4 million project. Now served by 12 daily Amtrak trains and the second busiest train station in North Carolina, 219,538 passengers were served by the station in 2023.

An interior view of Raleigh Union Station. | Raleigh Union Station Facebook

Orlando Health/Amtrak Station

1400 Sligh Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32806

An exterior view of Orlando Health/Amtrak Station. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Located one mile south of Downtown Orlando, the Orlando Health/Amtrak Station was built by A.M. Griffin and W.T. Hadlow for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1926. Serving Amtrak, the station is the passenger rail system’s fifth busiest in the Southeastern United Stations and the second busiest in Florida. In 2014, a second platform to serve the new SunRail commuter rail service was added to the Spanish Mission style railroad station. Since the opening of commuter rail, the station has served as a regional transit amenity serving a significant amount of transit oriented development at and adjacent to the Orlando Health Complex. Today, Orlando Health/Amtrak Station also serves Lynx bus route 40 and Amtrak Thruway buses.

An exterior view of Orlando Health/Amtrak Station. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Union Station Kansas City

30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108

An interior view of Union Station Kansas City. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Union Station in Kansas City, a stunning example of Beaux-Arts architecture, opened its doors on October 30, 1914. At the time, it was the second-largest train station in the United States. Thanks to its central location, the station became a vital hub for both passenger and freight rail traffic. Passenger numbers peaked in 1945, with a record 678,363 travelers that year. However, in 1985, all passenger rail services were moved to a smaller facility.

In 1996, residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area approved a 1/8-cent sales tax to support a $250 million restoration project for Union Station. Renovations began in 1997, and the station reopened in 1999. By 2002, Amtrak had restored passenger train service to the iconic site. Today, Union Station thrives as a multi-purpose destination, hosting an interactive science center, a live performance theater, a planetarium, and numerous restaurants and shops. Notably, it operates without any public funding.

An exterior view of Union Station Kansas City. | Ennis Davis, AICP

Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com