Union Station

Union Station is a three-story brick and limestone building perched on a high bluff overlooking the Alabama River, with six railway tracks running beneath a large covered shed. The structure was designed to handle the railway logistics of its era, with distinct sections for passenger operations and freight handling.

Union Station was built in 1898 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad as a major hub connecting Montgomery to cities across the nation. The railway was the primary transportation method of that era, making the station crucial to the city's economic and social development.

The station's separate waiting areas and distinct entrances reflect the segregation practices that defined the American South during its construction era. These physical divisions remain visible today and speak to the social conditions of that time.

The building now operates as the Montgomery Area Visitor Center, offering tourist information and hosting various commercial businesses in its restored interior. Visitors can freely explore the grounds and view the architectural features and rail infrastructure from outside.

The station retains one of the few surviving examples of a 19th-century gable-roofed train shed in the United States, now repurposed as covered parking. This distinctive roof design is uncommon today and demonstrates how early railway facilities prioritized shelter and operational efficiency.