Train Station
Union Station not only serves as the historical hub of transportation, but a place at the heart of the Mile High City. It symbolizes both the roots and hopes of the city. Union Station is more than a train station serving over 30,000 people each day. Dana Crawford called Union Station "a place that connects people to a sense of place and history. It’s about preserving the heartbeat of Denver."
Union Station first opened its doors to the city in 1881. The original structure was destroyed in an electrical fire caused from a short in a chandelier in the women’s restroom. It was rebuilt to the grand Beau-Arts structure known today in 1914. The once iconic Mizpah Arch located on 17th Street, was a magnificent 60-foot metal arch illuminated by over 2,000 light bulbs. On the side facing the station was the word “WELCOME,” and the side facing away from station was the word “MIZPAH,” referencing a Hebrew blessing from Genesis 31:49. During the Great Depression the Mizpah Arch fell into disrepair, was deemed a safety hazard, and ultimately demolished. On lampposts around Union Station in downtown Denver the words “WELCOME” and “MIZPAH” can still be found, reminders of the historic past.
In 2001, efforts began to revitalize Union Station after decades of disuse and disrepair. Dana Crawford is the preservationist and namesake of the Crawford Hotel whose conviction was at the center of the dedicated work of restoring the historic train station. After 13 years of cooperation and construction, Union Station reopened to the city in 2014, one hundred years to the day after the opening of the rebuilt structure in 1914. The station's restored grand architecture, with soaring ceilings and intricate details inspire a sense of timelessness and awe. In reflecting on the renovation of Union Station, Dana Crawford said, "The station represents the vitality of a city moving forward while respecting its roots." The historic space was reimagined with a hotel, restaurants, and shops, all while preserving its character and charm. Crawford emphasized the renovation was not simply about restoring a building, but about creating a place to reflect the city’s evolution, "Union Station is a gathering space, it’s a celebration of who we are as a community.”
Union Station is where generations of residents and visitors have arrived to and departed from Denver. It reflects a city that has transformed from an outpost of the American West to a metropolitan center. When it was first constructed, Union Station was integral to the city’s development, connecting Denver by train to the expanding world. The restoration of Union Station recreated a place of commerce and community. It is this synthesis of old and new, history and modernity, that makes this train station not only a place of transit, but a cultural cornerstone of past, present, and future. Dana Crawford affectionately called Union Station “Denver’s living room.” Union Station is a sacred place.
