Union Terminal
Queensgate neighborhood
Cincinnati, OH
Union Terminal is an intercity train station and museum center located in the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati. The station is served by Amtrak's Cardinal line three times a week as it heads west to Chicago and three times a week as it heads east to New York City.
In addition to housing the train station, Union Terminal also houses the Cincinnati Museum Center, comprising the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, the Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Cincinnati History Library and Archives, and an Omnimax theater.
Prior to the Union Terminal being built, Cincinnati had five local stations used by seven different railroads. The Cincinnati Union Terminal Company was created in 1927 by six of the railroads to build a common station. Construction started in 1928 and in addition to the main terminal building included the creation of several viaducts, mail processing buildings, a power plant, water treatment facility, and a roundhouse. Construction was finally completed in 1933.
Due to the Great Depression, the terminal was initially underused. Traffic through the terminal significantly increased during World War II, mostly due to the movement of troops and supplies for the war effort. Once the war was over, rail traffic began to decrease, as travel by car or airplane became increasingly more popular.
The last of the rail service stopped in 1972 when Amtrak moved to a smaller station nearby. During the 1970s the terminal was largely dormant and the platforms and train concourse were demolished. In 1980 the Land of Oz shopping mall was constructed inside the station, but closed in 1985, never fully being accepted by the public. In the late 1980s the Cincinnati History Museum and the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History were both looking to expand beyond their respective locations, and merged together to renovate the terminal building, which reopened in 1990 as the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Amtrak returned to the terminal in 1991, resuming the building's role as an intercity train station.
In addition to housing the train station, Union Terminal also houses the Cincinnati Museum Center, comprising the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, the Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Cincinnati History Library and Archives, and an Omnimax theater.
Prior to the Union Terminal being built, Cincinnati had five local stations used by seven different railroads. The Cincinnati Union Terminal Company was created in 1927 by six of the railroads to build a common station. Construction started in 1928 and in addition to the main terminal building included the creation of several viaducts, mail processing buildings, a power plant, water treatment facility, and a roundhouse. Construction was finally completed in 1933.
Due to the Great Depression, the terminal was initially underused. Traffic through the terminal significantly increased during World War II, mostly due to the movement of troops and supplies for the war effort. Once the war was over, rail traffic began to decrease, as travel by car or airplane became increasingly more popular.
The last of the rail service stopped in 1972 when Amtrak moved to a smaller station nearby. During the 1970s the terminal was largely dormant and the platforms and train concourse were demolished. In 1980 the Land of Oz shopping mall was constructed inside the station, but closed in 1985, never fully being accepted by the public. In the late 1980s the Cincinnati History Museum and the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History were both looking to expand beyond their respective locations, and merged together to renovate the terminal building, which reopened in 1990 as the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Amtrak returned to the terminal in 1991, resuming the building's role as an intercity train station.
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