Benton Harbor, MI: Lost/Union Station (C&O/PM and Big Four)

(Satellite, a long shack now sets on part of the land.)

Walter Jung posted
Union Station, Benton Harbor Michigan - not posted, date c. 1910.

Donna J Lippert: On North Shore Drive

Tim Shanahan shared

Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum posted

Today’s featured depot is the union station in Benton Harbor 

Benton Harbor, located in Berrien County, was settled about 1860 and quickly became a major industry hub for the area. 

Benton Harbor served as a stop on the Pere Marquette’s (later the C&O) main route connecting Grand Rapids with Chicago. Additional branch routes operated by the Michigan Central, Big Four, and Pere Marquette railroads extended from the area toward Galien, Niles, and Buchanan, respectively. 

A union station meant the depot served more than one railroad.

Sources are listed in the comments.

Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum: Source (image & some content):

"Station: Benton Haror, MI". Michigan Railroad History. www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/75-berrien-county-11/522-benton-harbor-mi. Accessed 04 September 2026.

Michael Moran: This one pictured also served the New York Central in Benton Harbor. This was the Union Station located off of Water Street and North Shore Drive.

Pere Marquette came up north along the lake, went through town, and left to the Northeast. Michigan Central came up along the west side of the river and terminated in this town. I don't think it got to the Union Station. Big Four came up from the Southeast, went past this station and terminated along the north side of the river.

1930/46 Benton Harbor Quad @ 62,500

Apr 20, 1969 @ 20,000; AR1VCEV00010046

At first, I thought that it was the big black rectangle in the northeast quadrant of North Shore Drive and the PM tracks. But that location did not correlate with Walter's postcard. Then I noticed the white rectangle just south of the Big Four mainline. But that also didn't correlate with the postcard. Then I saw the rectangle with all of the bumps on the roof in the southwest quadrant of the tracks and North Shore Drive. That does correlate with the postcard. The view in the postcard is looking Southwest with the train on the curve of the PM tracks. Note that the PM passengers have to cross the Big Four tracks to access their train.

Digitally Zoomed