St. Louis Union Station Architectural Drawings, 1891-1970 | WUA University Archives

Title: St. Louis Union Station Architectural Drawings, 1891-1970

ID: WUA/06/wua00363

Extent: 1500.0 Items

Arrangement

Creators

Administrative/Biographical History

Union Station is generally attributed to Theodore C. Link, as the predominate architect throughout the building project. He was joined by other architects in the initial phases, from 1891 -1894 when the station opened, and in the subsequent construction of the adjoining Terminal Hotel. Drawings early in the process were signed “Theo. C. Link and Edward A. Cameron.” Later tracings for the Terminal Hotel include work by Alfred Paist Rosenheim and William B. Ittner, along with Link.

St. Louis Union Station is considered by many experts to be the grandest and the most important railway edifice erected before the close of the 19th-century. Combined with James Eads' successful endeavor to span the Mississippi River with a novel multi-level railway and pedestrian bridge that unimpeded river traffic, St. Louis Union Station stood as convincing proof that St. Louis was at the country's center for transportation in the middle-west.

The architects, Theodore C. Link and Edward A. Cameron, sought to purposely capture both the solidity and permanence of established European architectural styles coupled with clever and practical solutions to serve the [then] modern and thriving world of tractive steam locomotive engines.

The St. Louis Union Station train shed was designed by Washington University graduate George H. Pegram. Due to the enormous span planned for the St. Louis Union Station train shed, Pegram's patented railroad bridge truss design proved to be the most practical to fabricate. This resulted in the world's largest train shed, measuring 700 by 606 feet and supporting the operation of thirty-two terminating tracks and gates, nineteen miles of track line, 130 switches, and 103 signals.

A building of mammoth proportions and elegant ornamental decoration, St. Louis Union Station was intended to accommodate thousands of travelers and workers daily. The monumental head house featured numerous amenities including a luxurious hotel, a saloon, a dining hall, lunch rooms, lounges, ticket offices, several offices for the Terminal Railroad Association, and the world's first barrel-vaulted train station concourse, or "Grand Hall."

Over time, as tractive technologies evolved from steam to diesel and to diesel-electric powered engines, St. Louis Union Station too underwent countless changes. With the growing popularity of automobiles and aircraft as alternatives modes of transportation, St. Louis Union Station eventually fell into disuse by the late 1970s. In 1985, the complex was re-opened as a modern commercial center including a shopping complex.

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Administrative Information

Repository: WUA University Archives

Acquired: 1999.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions to access.

Rights:

Users of the collection must read and abide by the Rules for the Use of University Archives Materials.

Users of the collection who wish to use items from this collection, in whole or in part, in any form of publication (as defined in the form) must sign and submit to the Washington University Archives a hard copy of the Notification of Intent to Quote from or Publish University Archives Materials form.

All publication not covered by fair use restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder.

Access Notes: Appointments may be required to view this collection due to the large size of the items.

Acquisition Note: The collection was transferred to the Washington University Archives in 1999 by St. Louis Station Associates.

Other Formats: Items reproduced in digital format are indicated by the note – Digitized. Digital files are in full RGB color, unless noted as BW (black and white scan) or Grey (greyscale scan). Inquire with staff for more information.

Preferred Citation: [Item description]. From the [collection title, series, box, folder]. University Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.

Finding Aid Revisions: This finding aid was entered into Archon by Meg Tuomala in November 2012.

Other Note: NOTE TO RESEARCHERS: When requesting a drawing please include the drawer number, drawing number, description, and date. The drawing number is the four digit number that preceeds the description for each item.

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Scope and Contents:

The collection consists of approximately 1400 drawings documenting the construction of St. Louis Union Station, hotel, train shed, and associated buildings, along with many modifications to the station up to the 1970s. Drawings from the 1890s-1920s are predominantly ink on white linen tracing cloth. Other drawings include pencil on tracing paper, pencil on tracing cloth, mechanical reproductions including blueprints on paper, diazotypes on paper, and Xerox (electrostatic) prints on Mylar.

Approximate size and additional information given for select drawings, and items available in digital format are noted. During 2014-2015 Archives staff are conducting a survey of this collection, and updates to the finding aid will be noted periodically.

NOTE TO RESEARCHERS: When requesting drawings please include the folder number, drawing number, description, and date. The drawing number is the four digit number that precedes the description for each item.

Detailed Description
Folder A-1: General Site, ca. 1892-1969
Folder A-2: Electrical and Steam Lines, ca. 1930-1966
Folder A-3: Train Shed, ca. 1892-1965
Folder A-4: Terminal Hotel, ca. 1894-1964
Folder A-5: Headhouse, ca. 1892-1957
Folder B-1: Railway Express Agency (REA) Building, ca. 1982-1893
Folder B-2: Train Shed, ca. 1892-1893
Folder B-3: Headhouse, Levels B and 1, ca. 1892-1964
Folder B-4: Headhouse, Levels 2-5 and Roof, ca. 1902-1967
Folder B-5: Midway and 1937 Addition, ca. 1903-1960
Folder C-1: Subway Buildings, ca. 1903-1955
Folder C-2: Subway, ca. 1893-1930
Folder C-3: Subway, ca. 1902-1903
Folder C-4: Drawing #1903 Train Shed Extension, ca. 1903
Folder C-5: Drawing #1900 Record Plats for TRRA, ca. 1900
Folder D-1: Butterfly Sheds, ca. 1924-1953
Folder D-3: Mail Buildings, ca. 1903-1961
Folder D-4: Railroad Company Buildings, ca. 1903-1967
Folder D-5: Diesel Station & Outer Buildings
Folder E-1: Power House, 1903-1953
Folder E-2: Power House and Water Treatment, ca. 1902-1949
Folder E-3: Signal Bridges and Switching Tower 1, ca. 1903-1940
Folder E-4: Structural Miscellaneous, ca. 1903-1966
Folder F-1: Fred Harvey's, ca.1944-1967
Folder F-2: Subways and Depot Master's Office, ca. 1903-1929
Folder F-3a: Fragile
Folder F-3b: Fragile
Folder F-3b: Misc: Fragile