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The old Union Station, shown here in 1915, would give way to a new building opened in 1925.
The old Union Station, shown here in 1915, would give way to a new building opened in 1925.
Union Station is under construction in an undated photo. The building opened in 1925, after being under construction for over a decade. World War I impeded the construction process.
Union Station is under construction in an undated photo. The building opened in 1925, after being under construction for over a decade. World War I impeded the construction process.
Union Station's Great Hall is under construction in this undated photo.
Union Station’s Great Hall is under construction in this undated photo.
Union Station in 1924, before it opened to the public the following year. It took ten years to building the railway terminal due to World War I delays.
Union Station in 1924, before it opened to the public the following year. It took ten years to building the railway terminal due to World War I delays.
People gather in the Great Hall during the official opening day of Union Station in Chicago in 1925. The Great Hall, one of the nation's great indoor public spaces, is no small thing. Designed by Chicago architects Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the hall forms the heart of Union Station.
People gather in the Great Hall during the official opening day of Union Station in Chicago in 1925. The Great Hall, one of the nation’s great indoor public spaces, is no small thing. Designed by Chicago architects Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the hall forms the heart of Union Station.
A view of the Canal Street entrance to Union Station shows the double stairway in 1925.
A view of the Canal Street entrance to Union Station shows the double stairway in 1925.
People walk through the newly opened Union Station on May 16, 1925.
People walk through the newly opened Union Station on May 16, 1925.
The hall at Chicago's Union Station right after it opened on May 16, 1925.
The hall at Chicago’s Union Station right after it opened on May 16, 1925.
Union Station ticketman George Robbins takes tickets from a happy crowd going home for the holiday in December 1935.
Union Station ticketman George Robbins takes tickets from a happy crowd going home for the holiday in December 1935.
Mr. and Mrs. Alberto and Ada Guglielmi with their son, Jean, 7, pose with famous actor Rudolph Valentino and his dog, an Irish Wolfhound named “Centaur Pendragon,” at Union Station in Chicago during a visit in February 1926, just a year after the building opened. Celebrities stopped over at the station on their trips between New York and California.
A photo-diagram shows the entrance to the train shed at Union Station, where Policeman W. J. O'Brien killed Earl Albitz after a battle that started in the station in 1939.
A photo-diagram shows the entrance to the train shed at Union Station, where Policeman W. J. O’Brien killed Earl Albitz after a battle that started in the station in 1939.
Roy Carlson and Charles Gorham give out information to the holiday crowds at Union Station in December 1935.
Roy Carlson and Charles Gorham give out information to the holiday crowds at Union Station in December 1935.
Members of the Dawn to Dusk club bid farewell to the Zephyr prior to an overnight dash from Chicago to Denver in 1936. “Zeph,” the club’s mascot, joined in the departure festivities.
Lt. O'Donnel holds a gun that was found in a trunk at Union Station on Feb. 9, 1939. It was an accidental shooting at Union Station.
Lt. O’Donnel holds a gun that was found in a trunk at Union Station on Feb. 9, 1939. It was an accidental shooting at Union Station.
A man stands in the floodwaters at Union Station on July 21, 1936, after a water main broke.
A man stands in the floodwaters at Union Station on July 21, 1936, after a water main broke.
A Pennsylvania train enters the terminal at Union Station on July 21, 1936, while the tracks were under water due to a broken water main. The station power plant and the basement of the new post office were also inundated.
A Pennsylvania train enters the terminal at Union Station on July 21, 1936, while the tracks were under water due to a broken water main. The station power plant and the basement of the new post office were also inundated.
Three women walk on the tracks outside of Union Station in 1936, avoiding the flooded station.
Three women walk on the tracks outside of Union Station in 1936, avoiding the flooded station.
A broken water main floods Union Station on July 21, 1936, stopping trains and travelers.
A broken water main floods Union Station on July 21, 1936, stopping trains and travelers.
Men work to clear Union Station of floodwater in 1936.
Men work to clear Union Station of floodwater in 1936.
People stand at the ticket gates at Union Station after a water main broke and flooded the station in 1936.
People stand at the ticket gates at Union Station after a water main broke and flooded the station in 1936.
The Abraham Lincoln pulls out of Union Station on its first run with a diesel-powered engine in May 1936.
The Abraham Lincoln pulls out of Union Station on its first run with a diesel-powered engine in May 1936.
Pre-holiday crowds wait in Union Station on July 3, 1946, to board the Milwaukee Road's Chippewa, which takes passengers to the vacation spots of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Pre-holiday crowds wait in Union Station on July 3, 1946, to board the Milwaukee Road’s Chippewa, which takes passengers to the vacation spots of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The tracks running into and under the concourse of Chicago's Union Station in September 1953. Jackson Boulevard is in the foreground.
The tracks running into and under the concourse of Chicago’s Union Station in September 1953. Jackson Boulevard is in the foreground.
The concourse at Chicago's Union Station in 1956.
The concourse at Chicago’s Union Station in 1956.
The information booth in the center of the Union Station concourse, which served travelers since the station opened in 1925, was moved to make way for a Fred Harvey store. The new information booth, shown Feb. 4, 1956, was at the west end of the Fred Harvey shop.
The information booth in the center of the Union Station concourse, which served travelers since the station opened in 1925, was moved to make way for a Fred Harvey store. The new information booth, shown Feb. 4, 1956, was at the west end of the Fred Harvey shop.
The annual inspection for Union Station police personnel is conducted by George P. Henson, second from right, the new Union Station general manager, and Patrick Tuoh, right, who is the chief of police at Union Station in 1957. Union Station employed its own police force.
The annual inspection for Union Station police personnel is conducted by George P. Henson, second from right, the new Union Station general manager, and Patrick Tuoh, right, who is the chief of police at Union Station in 1957. Union Station employed its own police force.
Sunlight streams into the concourse of Chicago's Union Station in September 1957.
Sunlight streams into the concourse of Chicago’s Union Station in September 1957.
Rail fans swarm over an old steam locomotive (a Chicago Burlington & Quincy 4-6-4 Hudson 3001) in Union Station after a trip from Chicago to Rock Island and back in 1958. The trip was made by 800 people.
Rail fans swarm over an old steam locomotive (a Chicago Burlington & Quincy 4-6-4 Hudson 3001) in Union Station after a trip from Chicago to Rock Island and back in 1958. The trip was made by 800 people.
Chicago's Union Station in 1959 with Jackson Boulevard on the left.
Chicago’s Union Station in 1959 with Jackson Boulevard on the left.
Ellen Schmitz, 16, of St. Louis, waits in vain for a train at Union Station in 1960. Travelers were stranded in Chicago and other cities when the strike of the Pennsylvania railroad began. It also halted freight shipments.
Ellen Schmitz, 16, of St. Louis, waits in vain for a train at Union Station in 1960. Travelers were stranded in Chicago and other cities when the strike of the Pennsylvania railroad began. It also halted freight shipments.
The Burlington Zephyr chorus sings traditional Christmas carols to travelers in the waiting room of Union Station on Dec. 23, 1964.
The Burlington Zephyr chorus sings traditional Christmas carols to travelers in the waiting room of Union Station on Dec. 23, 1964.
An unusually large crowd waits at the commuter ticket windows in Union Station during rush hour Aug. 30, 1962. Chicago's other transportation facilities were overwhelmed for a brief period because of the North Western railway strike. Extra ticket agents were assigned to relieve congestion and additional cars were attached to accommodate homeward-bound suburbanites.
An unusually large crowd waits at the commuter ticket windows in Union Station during rush hour Aug. 30, 1962. Chicago’s other transportation facilities were overwhelmed for a brief period because of the North Western railway strike. Extra ticket agents were assigned to relieve congestion and additional cars were attached to accommodate homeward-bound suburbanites.
Impact of the firemen's strike halting the Pennsylvania Railroad traffic was apparent at Union Station on April 1, 1966, where the big waiting room, usually bustling with travelers, had only a few people waiting for trains. Union firemen had hit eight railroads and halted commuter service by the Illinois Central.
Impact of the firemen’s strike halting the Pennsylvania Railroad traffic was apparent at Union Station on April 1, 1966, where the big waiting room, usually bustling with travelers, had only a few people waiting for trains. Union firemen had hit eight railroads and halted commuter service by the Illinois Central.
A throng of homeward-bound commuters waits in Union Station during the evening rush hour for a chance to board trains March 19, 1965. Commuters were delayed almost an hour when three cars of the Burlington's Empire Builder derailed near 12th Street, blocking the tracks.
A throng of homeward-bound commuters waits in Union Station during the evening rush hour for a chance to board trains March 19, 1965. Commuters were delayed almost an hour when three cars of the Burlington’s Empire Builder derailed near 12th Street, blocking the tracks.
A group of boys wave goodbye on July 6, 1950, as they leave on a train out of Union Station for a Chicago Boys Camp in Winona, Indiana.
A group of boys wave goodbye on July 6, 1950, as they leave on a train out of Union Station for a Chicago Boys Camp in Winona, Indiana.
Long lines of travelers wait at the ticket windows in Union Station on July 8, 1966, after a strike against four airlines operating from O'Hare disrupted the flying accommodations for thousands of people.
Long lines of travelers wait at the ticket windows in Union Station on July 8, 1966, after a strike against four airlines operating from O’Hare disrupted the flying accommodations for thousands of people.
The exterior of Union Station on the east side of Canal Street, looking southeast, on Nov. 8, 1968. Note the Fred Harvey sign on the building.
The exterior of Union Station on the east side of Canal Street, looking southeast, on Nov. 8, 1968. Note the Fred Harvey sign on the building.
The concourse of Chicago's Union Station in July 1969. The Semaphore Luncheonette is on the left against the far wall and the Iron Horse Cocktail Lounge is on the right side of the far wall, both owned by Fred Harvey.
The concourse of Chicago’s Union Station in July 1969. The Semaphore Luncheonette is on the left against the far wall and the Iron Horse Cocktail Lounge is on the right side of the far wall, both owned by Fred Harvey.
The concourse at Union Station in April 1969.
The concourse at Union Station in April 1969.
A throng of people crowd Union Station as they prepare to leave the city for a prolonged Fourth of July holiday weekend on July 2, 1965. The crowd is lined up at the train gates.
A throng of people crowd Union Station as they prepare to leave the city for a prolonged Fourth of July holiday weekend on July 2, 1965. The crowd is lined up at the train gates.
The concourse of Chicago's Union Station in an undated photo.
The concourse of Chicago’s Union Station in an undated photo.
Wreckers make progress in tearing down the Union Station concourse building July 6, 1969. While demolition and construction was underway, commuters were rerouted through the main waiting area of the station office building.
Wreckers make progress in tearing down the Union Station concourse building July 6, 1969. While demolition and construction was underway, commuters were rerouted through the main waiting area of the station office building.
Chicago's Union Station concourse is demolished in 1969.
Chicago’s Union Station concourse is demolished in 1969.
The clock stopped at the Union Station concourse May 16, 1969, exactly 44 years after the station was opened at 6:30 a.m. May 16, 1925. The lion-held clock overlooking the marble staircase was stopped at precisely 6:30 a.m. by Wayne Bratz, general manger of Boyas Excavating Inc., of Cleveland, in preparation for the firm's demolition of the building. Wayne Bratz is on the left and his assistant Jim Savory on the right.
The clock stopped at the Union Station concourse May 16, 1969, exactly 44 years after the station was opened at 6:30 a.m. May 16, 1925. The lion-held clock overlooking the marble staircase was stopped at precisely 6:30 a.m. by Wayne Bratz, general manger of Boyas Excavating Inc., of Cleveland, in preparation for the firm’s demolition of the building. Wayne Bratz is on the left and his assistant Jim Savory on the right.
Union Station on Aug. 16, 1972, for a story about the changing face of travelers at Union Station.
Union Station on Aug. 16, 1972, for a story about the changing face of travelers at Union Station.
Looking south toward the post office are the air rights over Union Station where an additional building is planned for the future in 1972. This photo is looking south from Jackson Boulevard to Van Buren Steet on Aug. 16, 1972.
Looking south toward the post office are the air rights over Union Station where an additional building is planned for the future in 1972. This photo is looking south from Jackson Boulevard to Van Buren Steet on Aug. 16, 1972.
The Mclennan Plaza building rises above the old station Aug. 16, 1972. This photo was taken at Clinton and Jackson streets. The Sears Tower, right, is under construction.
The Mclennan Plaza building rises above the old station Aug. 16, 1972. This photo was taken at Clinton and Jackson streets. The Sears Tower, right, is under construction.
An early morning strike added extra commuters to the Milwaukee Road and Burlington Northern trains, making Union Station, where both lines terminate, more crowded than normal Sept. 5, 1978.
An early morning strike added extra commuters to the Milwaukee Road and Burlington Northern trains, making Union Station, where both lines terminate, more crowded than normal Sept. 5, 1978.
Firefighters battle a blaze in Union Station on July 26, 1980.
Firefighters battle a blaze in Union Station on July 26, 1980.
Travelers make the best of a delay and high water caused by firefighters dowsing a fire in an adjacent portion of Union Station on July 26, 1980.
Travelers make the best of a delay and high water caused by firefighters dowsing a fire in an adjacent portion of Union Station on July 26, 1980.
The charred damage can be seen where firemen fought a fire in Union Station on July 26, 1980.
The charred damage can be seen where firemen fought a fire in Union Station on July 26, 1980.