Union: (
Satellite)MoPac: (
Satellite, all of the MoPac land has been reused in Wichita.)
The good news is that a renovation was completed in 2019. The bad news is that it is closed to the public. After passenger train service terminated in 1979, it set vacant until 1982 when Multimedia Cablevision converted it to office space. But they moved to a bigger space in 2007. [
kansas]
The brick building was the Rock Island Depot. There is a display of railroad equipment on the overpass
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Kansas Historical Society
"The facility built in cooperation with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, St. Louis-San Francisco Railway [Frisco], and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company. The Wichita Union Terminal Company handled daily operations. The station designed by Kansas City architect Louis Curtiss still stands."
(An interior view) |
KSHPO - Kansas State Historic Preservation Office
posted four photos with the comment:
WHAT”S WHAT IN TAX CREDITS: NATIONAL TRAIN DAY, MAY 11
All aboard at Wichita Union Station. This two story stone depot illustrates the importance of the railroads in establishing Douglas Avenue as the primary commercial thoroughfare in Wichita. The depot influenced the establishment of businesses that catered to travelers. The “Union” depot was built in order to consolidate traffic that had overtaken East Douglas in the early twentieth century.
The Beaux Arts building was designed by Louis S. Curtiss and is an excellent example of the style which then swept the nation as part of the “City Beautiful” movement. The building and its grounds were designed so as to put Wichita’s “best foot forward” for all visitors to the city. Opening day was March 7, 1914.
Wichita’s Union Station is constructed of concrete, stone and terra cotta. Character-defining features in this building are full-height coupled columns and arched openings between the columns featuring windows extending full height. The verticality of the facade is emphasized by the sashes in the tall windows set between the columns. The metal window frames are noteworthy for their elaborate decoration. The front elevation is strictly symmetrical, and the building is divided into clearly articulated parts. A massive entablature, fully articulated with architrave, frieze and cornice, is executed in the Ionic order. Metal canopies on the front formerly provided support for awnings. A large addition to the south formerly contained baggage and freight rooms. There are large areas of windows with multiple vertical sashes immediately south of the main wing, and the building becomes more utilitarian in its design towards the rear [S]. There is a brick drive in front of the building.
A substantial Tax Credit project in 2019 rehabilitated exteriors and interior of the main terminal and freight buildings in 4 phases.
David Detjen
shared with the comment: "Wichita Union Station in Kansas."
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This depot replaced the earlier Santa Fe depot, which served its first train on May 16, 1872. [
TripAdvisor]
At the top-right corner of this map excerpt, the Santa Fe was on the left, the Rock Island was in the middle and the Frisco was on the right. The "PACIFIC" in the left middle was the Missouri Pacific. That route is now abandoned. I presume the vertical rectangle where
City Hall Parking stands now was the MoPac depot. Wichata Street is where the tracks used to run.
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| 1956 Wichita East Quadrangle @ 1:24,000 |
Lon Smith
posted 15 photos with the comment: "Old Union Station in downtown Wichita, Ks, recently restored for mixed office/retail. It's becoming quite a hot spot again, which is nice. Also a couple of photos of the outdoor displays at the adjacent transportation museum."
Rock Island Depot
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Dave Garland posted
Wichita KS Former 1887 Rock Island Depot. Photo September 2024. Excellent pizza restaurant. Photo Copyright Dave Garland 725 East Douglas |
Missouri Pacific Depot
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Chris Cruz posted
This Missouri Pacific depot in Wichita, KS is identified as an image taken in August, 1941 by L.L. Clerico of Wichita. Note the large advertising on the depot and the small burger joint at the far left which others have identified as a former White Castle.
Robert Chitwood: Demolished at the end of 1964.
Karl Rhines: According to the history of White Castles Hamburgers that might be the original (1st) building. Mark Youngblood: White Castle invented the hamburger and fast food. C.L. Lomie: Mark Youngblood White Castle has had the creation of the hamburger slider attributed to them, they were founded in 1921. The hamburger was likely invented around 1885-1900…depending on who you believe invented it. There are three different stories. White Castle is usually considered the creator of the fast food industry/concept. |
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Chris Cruz commented on his post
Because the image I posted showed so much interest, here is another one of the three I have, also credited to L. L. Clerico, dated 3-24-63. |
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Dennis DeBruler commented on Robert's comment
Where was it? I looked along the MoPac tracks on a 1960 aerial photo, but I could not find it.
[AR1VADP00010131] |
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C.L. Lomie commented on Dennis' comment
That’s 302 West Douglas Ave.
Dennis DeBruler: C.L. Lomie Thanks. So they had to do a backing maneuver into the station. No wonder I couldn't find it. |
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Chris Cruz commented on Dennis' comment
The image came from the collection of Jerry Pitts, a good friend who kept some data about his hometown of Wichita. Here is a page he copied in 2010 giving more details, including the address.
Dennis DeBruler: Chris Cruz Thanks. That also provided the dates of 1900-64.
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pocketsights, Credit: Wichita Public Library Photography
"The building was a striking one, with a tower on the southeast corner that rose 88 feet [27m] high." |
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