The Most Unique Train Station In Illinois Comes With A Story Locals Never Forgot

Chicago’s Union Station stands as a monument to America’s golden age of rail travel. Opened in 1925, the station quickly became the Midwest’s busiest rail hub, connecting Chicago to every corner of the country. At its peak, more than 300 trains and 100,000 passengers passed through daily, making it one of the most important gateways in the nation.

Even as air travel reshaped the landscape of transportation, Union Station endured as both a functional terminal and a cultural landmark. Its design, rooted in the City Beautiful movement, sought not only to move people efficiently but to inspire them with architecture that reflected dignity, order, and progress.

With its breathtaking Great Hall serving as the crown jewel, this historic transportation hub has welcomed travelers for nearly a century. Beyond its practical purpose, the station holds stories of architectural brilliance, Hollywood fame, and the shared memories of generations of Chicagoans who’ve passed through its grand marble halls.

1. Visionary Architecture That Defined An Era

Daniel Burnham dreamed it, but never saw it completed. The legendary Chicago architect’s grand vision for Union Station was eventually brought to life by the firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White after his death, opening to the public in 1925.

The Beaux-Arts masterpiece showcases classical influences with its symmetrical design and monumental scale. Limestone and Bedford stone form the exterior, while the interior spaces feature a carefully planned progression that guides travelers from the bustling concourse to the magnificent Great Hall.

The designers intended the station to serve as both a gateway to the city and a symbol of Chicago’s importance as America’s railroad crossroads.

2. A Skylight That Touches The Heavens

Sunlight cascades through 219 feet of glass, creating an ever-changing play of light and shadow across the Great Hall’s marble floor. The barrel-vaulted skylight, soaring about 115 feet above visitors, serves as Union Station’s crown jewel and engineering marvel.

For decades, pollution and Chicago’s harsh weather dimmed its brilliance. Water damage forced officials to cover the original glass with a protective but dulling layer. The recent $22 million restoration finally returned the skylight to its original splendor, removing the covering and installing over 2,000 panes of new glass.

Travelers now experience the same awe-inspiring natural illumination that greeted visitors nearly a century ago.

3. Marble Grandeur Fit For Royalty

Tennessee marble stretches across the floor like a luxurious carpet, welcoming millions of footsteps over nearly a century. The Great Hall’s walls gleam with travertine from Italy, creating a warm, honey-colored glow that softens the monumental space.

Twenty-four Corinthian columns stand as silent sentinels, each stretching upward to frame the soaring 110-foot ceiling. These fluted giants, capped with intricate acanthus leaf designs, support both the physical structure and the hall’s sense of classical dignity.

Every architectural detail was chosen with purpose – even the brass light fixtures and wooden benches carry period-appropriate styling that completes the hall’s cohesive design.

4. More Than A Station: Chicago’s Living Room

During World War II, the Great Hall transformed into a gathering space where soldiers shared heartfelt goodbyes with loved ones. The wooden benches that line the hall witnessed countless reunions, farewells, and the full spectrum of human emotion.

Beyond transportation, the space evolved into Chicago’s unofficial living room. Wedding photos, prom pictures, and holiday celebrations regularly fill the hall with life. In 2001, the station became a meeting place for stranded airline passengers after 9/11 grounded flights, as many sought rail connections when planes could not fly.

The hall continues hosting farmers markets, beer festivals, and charity galas, reinforcing its role as a civic space where Chicago’s diverse communities come together.

5. Hollywood’s Favorite Chicago Backdrop

Blood splattered across pristine marble steps as Kevin Costner’s Eliot Ness battled gangsters in the most famous scene from 1987’s The Untouchables. Director Brian De Palma transformed Union Station’s grand staircase into a cinematic battleground that forever linked the building with Hollywood history.

Julia Roberts dashed through these same halls in My Best Friend’s Wedding, while Johnny Depp’s John Dillinger evaded capture here in Public Enemies. The station’s timeless architecture provides filmmakers with an instantly recognizable Chicago setting that transcends specific time periods.

Film crews regularly return, drawn by the dramatic lighting, imposing columns, and the Great Hall’s ability to portray both 1930s elegance and contemporary grandeur.

6. Legacy That Endures

Today, Union Station remains Amtrak’s Midwest hub, serving millions of riders each year and anchoring the city’s regional transit system. Restoration projects continue to preserve its architectural integrity while adapting the facility for modern travelers. Plans for expanded platforms, new retail spaces, and improved passenger amenities signal a future where the station retains its historic character but meets 21st-century needs.

For Chicagoans, the Great Hall is more than marble and glass – it is a living reminder of a city built on movement and ambition. Schoolchildren on field trips, commuters catching their evening train, and couples posing for wedding portraits all share the same majestic space. Union Station embodies both permanence and change, a place where the echoes of history meet the rhythm of modern life. Its story endures because it is not only remembered by locals – it is still lived every day.