Saint Paul Union Depot, train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul Union Depot is a historic railway station in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, featuring a monumental stone facade with tall columns facing Kellogg Boulevard. The interior Great Hall is lined with pale pink marble, a high curved ceiling with skylights, and decorated columns that once housed waiting areas, ticket offices, and restaurants.
A fire in 1915 destroyed the original 1881 station, leading to the construction of a new shared terminal designed to serve several railroad companies at once. After serving millions of soldiers during World War II, the building saw passenger numbers fall steadily until the last regular train departed in 1971.
The Great Hall regularly hosts art exhibitions and public events that draw locals and visitors together in the same space. Inside the building, QR codes share stories from past travelers, connecting the history of the place to those who pass through today.
The depot serves as a transportation hub with bus, light rail, and Amtrak connections, and the building is fully accessible with clear signage throughout. Events and exhibitions take place year-round, so it is worth checking what is on before your visit, including the annual Train Days celebration.
The passage bridge, built in the 1920s, has a vaulted tile ceiling in a Spanish style where interlocking tiles allow sunlight to fall directly onto the platforms below. The tracks themselves were raised on a large concrete platform to protect them from flooding by the nearby Mississippi River, a solution that was rarely used in North American stations at the time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
