Plans for Renovating Union Station in St. Louis a Second Time Are in the Works

Renovation Includes an Expansion of the Marriott Hotel and Additional Retail Shops

I just read that it has been 31 years since the last train left Union Station here in St. Louis. Union Station used to be one of the busiest train stations in the country, right behind Chicago. The station has always been stunning to look at, both from the outside and the inside.

Outside are the water fountains "The Meeting of the Waters" with sculptures by Carl Milles. Fanciful sea creatures frolic in the fountain with water shooting out of their mouths. Even the building itself is grand looking, with a pointed steeple and interesting stone work and an orange tile roof.

Inside the great hall is littered with shops and if you go up the stairs, you'll find the world class Hyatt Hotel. Also in the Grand Hal is the stained glass window, the Allegorical Window.

The window features three ladies, the one on the left is San Francisco, the one in the middle St. Louis and the one on the right depicts New York City.

I was about three years old when my grandparents took me on a train ride to visit relatives in DeSoto, Missouri. I remember my grandfather buying me one of those pinstriped engineer's hats at the train shop. Now I could pretend that I was driving the train.

The trip took maybe 45 minutes and the only downside to it was I wet may pants when we got to DeSoto. We had to stop in a local restaurant so I could change my pants.

Later, when I was in my early teens, me and my buddies used to hang out down there. We would ride our bikes down and sneak out into the rail yard and tease the bums that stayed down there.

In 1985, the station underwent a $140 million renovation and became a retail and entertainment center after laying dormant for a number of years. It became one of the premier attractions of St. Louis.

Then over the years, the station started to decline. Several of the premier shops moved out and room bookings at the hotel declined. But according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the St. Louis landmark is making a comeback.