Day & multi-day tours · Private or shared [email protected]
3,800 Tours 166 Destinations 87 Countries
Voyzo
Attraction · Denver, Colorado

Union Station

Union Station is Denver's real, restored 1914 Beaux-Arts train station at the heart of downtown, still functioning today as a working transit hub for Amtrak and regional rail lines. Following a major renovation completed in 2014, the historic Great Hall now houses restaurants, shops, and a boutique hotel alongside its original grand architecture. It's become one of downtown Denver's main gathering spots, not just a place travelers pass through.

Photos of Union Station

Visitor guide

About Union Station

Denver Union Station stands at 17th and Wynkoop Streets in the LoDo district, where it has been both a working rail station and a downtown meeting place. The current Beaux-Arts central building opened in 1914, replacing a station that was first built on the site in 1881. After a renovation that reopened it in 2014, it combines rail, light rail and bus service with a hotel, restaurants and shops.

History

By 1875, Denver had four separate railroad depots, which made transfers between lines awkward. The Union Pacific proposed a single shared 'union' station, and the first Denver Union Depot opened in 1881. A fire in 1894 destroyed the central portion, and the station was rebuilt. As rail traffic grew, the city replaced the central section with the larger building designed by Denver architects Gove & Walsh, in carved granite and terra cotta, which opened in 1914. The Wynkoop Street facade looks much as it did in 1914. In its heyday, about 80 trains a day passed through the terminal.

Passenger rail declined through the late 20th century, and Amtrak became the only intercity rail service, running the California Zephyr. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) bought the station in 2001. Union Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The illuminated 'UNION STATION' sign atop Denver's historic Union Station building

The 2012 to 2014 renovation

The station closed for renovation on December 2, 2012, with an emphasis on preserving its historic features. It reopened on July 26, 2014. The restoration kept the roughly 2,300 original plaster columbines that decorate the Great Hall and the orange 'Travel by Train' neon sign on the facade. The building now houses the 112-room Crawford Hotel, restaurants and retailers, and the Great Hall has been called Denver's living room. Amtrak moved into the new train hall in February 2014, an underground bus concourse opened in May 2014, and the A Line commuter rail to Denver International Airport began running in April 2016.

What to see today

The Great Hall is the main attraction: a tall space with the original plaster ceiling details, restaurants, shops and public seating where people read, work or meet friends. The train shed behind the station and the plaza in front make it easy to spend an hour. The 'Travel by Train' sign is a popular photograph, best seen on the Wynkoop Street side.

Visiting tips

  • Because Union Station is an active transit hub, expect commuters and travelers, and note that food, shop and hotel hours are set by each business.
  • Check the operator and tenant websites for current hours.
  • The station is easy to reach on foot from Coors Field and the 16th Street Mall, and the A Line and light rail serve it directly.

Nearby

LoDo's brick warehouse streets, Coors Field and the 16th Street Mall are all within walking distance. Voyzo's private tours with a driver and door-to-door pickup can start or end here, which keeps downtown parking out of the picture for a short city-center walk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Union Station

A station first opened on the site in 1881, and the current Beaux-Arts central building, designed by Gove & Walsh, opened in 1914.
Yes. It serves Amtrak's California Zephyr, RTD light rail, regional buses and the A Line to Denver International Airport.
A fire in 1894 destroyed the central part of the 1881 station, which was rebuilt and later replaced by the 1914 building.
It closed on December 2, 2012, and reopened on July 26, 2014.
Yes. The Crawford Hotel, with 112 rooms, occupies part of the historic station building.
Yes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
It is at 17th and Wynkoop Streets in the LoDo district of downtown Denver.
Union Station Request a Quote

Exploring Denver?

See every tour and attraction we cover in Denver.