At A Glance
Location: 1820 Market St, St. Louis, MO, 63103
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 9 PM
Price: Free
History/Overview
Union Station in St. Louis is a National Historic Landmark train station that opened in 1894, as the largest in the world and it had passenger service areas and tracks all on one level. In the 1940s, at the station’s peak, it serviced some 100,000 passengers per day, but the last Amtrak train left the station in 1978.
Too beautiful to lay waste to, Union Station was renovated in the 1980s to include a shopping center, hotel, and entertainment complex. To date, this is the largest re-use project in the history of the country.
The 2010s and ‘20s saw more expansion and renovations, and today’s Union Station resembles nothing of what it was in the early or late 1900s. The station is home to many attractions and fun things for tourists to do, so St. Louis Union Station should definitely be on your list of things to do in the city.
What to Expect at Union Station
Union Station is a great place to get a feel for the city and its people. There are a number of things to do and see at the station. First, you can visit the St. Louis Aquarium which is home to over 13,000 animals that represent some 250 species. And don’t miss out on the amazing shark aquarium, there’s nothing like seeing these graceful fish swimming just above your head!
Heading over to the station’s train shed area you’ll find the St. Louis Wheel. Much like many other large cities, the Lou has its very own 200-foot tall, 42 gondola observation wheel. Aside from the Gateway Arch, this is one of the best places to get breathtaking views of the city.
Inside Union Station, there’s so much to do, such as The St. Louis Rope Course, a 3-story, 90,000 cubic foot rope, and zip line course. You also don’t want to miss out on one of two light shows displayed at Union Station; the first is inside the lobby and the other is by the train shed. If you work up an appetite with all this fun, don’t worry because St. Louis Union Station is home to many delicious restaurants such as The Train Shed, Station Grille, Soda Fountain, and more.
FAQs
St. Louis Union Station was closed down as a shopping center and repurposed as an entertainment complex. Here you’ll find many great activities such as the St. Louis Aquarium, St. Louis Wheel, Mirror Maze, 3-story Rope Course, and much more.
Union Station in St. Louis was built in 1891, so this makes it 131 years old. And in its long life, it served as one of the busiest train stations in the world, a shopping mall, and now a tourist attraction.
It’s free to visit Union Station, but you will have to pay a $25 admission fee to enjoy the attractions. This means if you’re just going for dinner, you can still enjoy the food and ambiance without paying an admission fee.