This month Union Station celebrates its 10th anniversary! Well, sort of — the gorgeous piece of architecture that anchors lower downtown underwent a massive transformation a decade ago that added a hotel, brought new restaurants and stores to the area, and dramatically improved the built environment around it. A rebirth, so to speak.
But the train depot’s beginnings go way back to the 1870s when the railroads first came to the Mile High. The building itself has seen several phases of construction in 1881, 1914, and 2014, fusing its Neoclassical, Italian Romanesque, and contemporary details into the seamless and inviting design Denverites recognize today.
In one of its earliest iterations, a stately arch stood outside the station. Seen here in this photo from the 1910s, the structure reads “Mizpah,” or “watchtower” in Hebrew, on one side facing the street, offering travelers a thoughtful departing message. (The side visitors would see when arriving in Denver read “Welcome.”) Lit up by more than 2,000 shining bulbs, the striking archway made of steel and lights stood at 17th and Wynkoop until the 1930s when it was torn down.
As Union Station celebrates 10 years as the iconic institution we know today, it’s also in the midst of another renovation, sprucing up the great hall’s furnishings and the 112 rooms inside the Crawford Hotel. Curious as to what the place looked like pre-2014? Be sure to check out Denver Infill’s excellent documentation of the train depot in its more dormant years.
Special thanks to the Denver Architecture Foundation and History Colorado for their resources and reporting.
