Denver Union Station
| Company type | Transit hub |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | June 1, 1881 |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado , United States |
Area served | Denver metropolitan area |
| Products | Railway station services, bus terminal, light rail station, hotel, retail and dining |
Denver Union Station serves as the principal railway station and key transit hub in Denver, Colorado. Situated at the intersection of 17th and Wynkoop Streets within the LoDo neighborhood, it encompasses the historic station building, a contemporary open-air train shed, an underground bus station with 22 gates, and facilities for light rail. The original depot commenced operations on June 1, 1881, but was destroyed by fire in 1894. The existing structure was constructed in phases, culminating in a significant expansion completed in 1914.
A major refurbishment took place in 2012, repositioning Denver Union Station as the focal point of a transit-oriented mixed-use development on the site of former rail yards. The restored historic station building reopened in 2014, now featuring the 112-room Crawford Hotel alongside dining establishments and retail outlets.
19th century: Initial stations
The first train depot in Denver was established in 1868 to serve the Denver Pacific Railway, connecting Denver with the transcontinental railroad at Cheyenne, Wyoming. By 1875, four separate railroad terminals complicated passenger transfers. To improve efficiency, Union Pacific proposed a unified "Union Station." In February 1880, the four railroad companies—Union Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande, Denver, South Park & Pacific, and Colorado Central—agreed to build a shared station at 17th and Wynkoop Streets. The Kansas City architect A. Taylor designed this facility, which opened its doors in May 1881.
A fire damaged the central section of the 1881 depot in 1894. The replacement, designed by Kansas City's Van Brunt & Howe firm in Romanesque Revival style, was larger and also featured a distinctive clock tower with four clock faces similar to its predecessor.
Early 20th century
On July 4, 1906, a substantial steel arch was unveiled before the station as a welcoming landmark for visitors. Initially inscribed with "Welcome," the side facing 17th Street was later altered to read "Mizpah," a Hebrew term expressing a heartfelt connection for those leaving Denver.
In 1912, the original Union Depot partnership dissolved and was succeeded by the Denver Terminal Railway Company. This new consortium represented key railroads such as Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific; Colorado & Southern; Union Pacific; and Denver & Rio Grande Western. They reconstructed the station’s central section to handle growing passenger volumes. Designed by Denver architects Gove & Walsh in Beaux-Arts style, this updated segment opened in 1914.
During the 1920s and 1930s, more than eighty trains passed through daily. The station hosted notable figures including Queen Marie of Romania and U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Due to increased traffic congestion, the Mizpah Arch was removed in 1931.
Late 20th century: Decline
Although World War II temporarily increased rail travel, Union Station experienced a steep decline in usage during the latter half of the twentieth century as automobiles and air travel became more popular.
In 1958, passenger numbers at Stapleton International Airport exceeded those at Union Station for the first time. During this era, bright orange signs reading "Union Station: Travel by Train" were installed to encourage intercity rail ridership.
Amtrak eventually became the sole operator at Union Station, running two daily trains between Chicago and the Bay Area via the California Zephyr. Between the 1980s and early 2000s, organizations including RTD, Denver’s municipal government, and Denver Union Terminal Railway Corporation undertook enhancements such as dedicated RTD bus lanes linking Market Street Station to I-25 and introducing light rail service.
The station also accommodated special services like the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad's Ski Train, which operated until winter 2008–2009. Revival efforts in late 2009 faltered due to insurance complications; however, weekend ski train service resumed during peak seasons beginning in 2022.
Prior to its extensive renovation, Union Station served as departure point for the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Train—a special excursion connecting Denver with Cheyenne, Wyoming for rodeo festivities. This train service later shifted operations near the Denver Coliseum before ultimately ceasing in 2019.
Redevelopment
In 2001, ownership of the station and its 19-acre property was transferred to the Regional Transit District (RTD), the City of Denver, and the State of Colorado. The 2004 FasTracks tax initiative provided the necessary capital to develop a new regional commuter hub. Beginning in 2009, construction commenced on updated rail platforms based on a comprehensive masterplan crafted by Continuum Partners and East West Partners. By 2012, extensive refurbishment revitalized the historic structure into a transit-focused mixed-use development, which officially reopened in 2014 featuring the 112-room Crawford Hotel alongside dining and retail establishments.
Following a 2006 selection process, Continuum Partners and East West Partners were appointed as lead developers for the entire site, orchestrating transit components within a single $500 million phase. In 2008, public spaces such as the landscape design, train hall, bus terminal, and light rail station were conceived by Hargreaves Associates and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. A $300 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation was awarded in 2010 to support construction of three light-rail tracks and eight heavy-rail tracks dedicated to Amtrak and commuter rail services, along with expanded storage and maintenance facilities.
Work began in 2010; Amtrak operations temporarily relocated in February 2011 to a site at 21st and Wewatta streets near Coors Field. The new light rail station opened on August 15, 2011, situated adjacent to consolidated mainline tracks close to the Denver Millennium Bridge. Additionally, the western terminus of the 16th Street MallRide shuttle was moved to this vicinity.
Amtrak service returned to the newly constructed open-air train hall on February 28, 2014. The underground Bus Concourse with 22 gates launched on May 11, 2014, supplanting Market Street Station after three decades as an RTD bus center. Since its inception in 2015, Bustang has operated from this Bus Concourse. In 2020, Greyhound Lines shifted its Denver terminal into Union Station’s Bus Concourse. Other intercity bus providers operating here include Burlington Trailways and Express Arrow.
Commuter rail service commenced at the renovated train hall with the April 2016 debut of the A Line, offering connections to Denver International Airport every fifteen minutes during peak periods with an approximate journey time of 37 minutes. The initial segment of the B Line began running in July 2016 between Denver and Westminster, operating every half hour during rush hours with an 11-minute travel duration. The G Line extending to Wheat Ridge opened in April 2019, featuring a total travel time of about 27 minutes. Service on the N Line to Thornton started in September 2020 with an estimated runtime near 29 minutes.
Restoration of the historic station house
Concurrent with broader site redevelopment, a comprehensive restoration was undertaken for the historic station house. In 2011, two rival proposals emerged: one from the Denver Union Station Neighborhood Company and another from the Union Station Alliance (comprising Urban Neighborhoods Inc., Sage Hospitality, Larimer Associates, REGen, llc., and McWhinney). Both plans maintained transit waiting areas, Amtrak facilities, retail spaces, and connectivity with public plazas. The Neighborhood Company’s concept emphasized a public market alongside commercial office spaces, whereas the Alliance prioritized an independent hotel alongside positioning the Great Hall as "Denver's Living Room."
In 2012, RTD approved the Union Station Alliance’s $54 million hotel renovation plan and granted a redevelopment lease for ninety-nine years. The main building closed on December 1, 2012, reopening on July 26, 2014. Currently, upper floors accommodate the 112-room Crawford Hotel; the Great Hall functions as both hotel lobby and public gathering area while serving as a waiting space for trains; and ground-level areas host ten separate retail and dining tenants.
Future
The majority of plans for Front Range Passenger Rail, a developing inter-city rail system linking Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne, propose a stop at Union Station. However, some alternatives recommend bypassing downtown Denver and Union Station to instead include a stop at Denver Airport station.
Layout
Serving as an intermodal transportation center, Denver Union Station combines the historic terminal with a contemporary open-air train hall, an underground bus terminal featuring 22 gates, and a light rail station situated on the site of the former rail yard. The train hall, located behind the historic structure, accommodates Amtrak and commuter rail services. An access point positioned between the train hall and the historic terminal leads directly into the subterranean bus terminal, which extends westward beneath 17th Street for two city blocks to reach an above-ground light rail station. Vertical circulation between the bus terminal and light rail platforms is provided via street-level pavilions.
These components are linked above ground by prominent public spaces such as the 17 St. Promenade/Gardens and Wynkoop Plaza.
A previous underground tunnel that connected the station to former rail platforms was removed during the construction of the bus terminal.
Historic building
Denver Union Station today consists of two lower wing structures flanking a larger central building constructed in multiple phases. The wings originate from the initial 1881 Romanesque Revival design and feature tall, narrow windows, rusticated stonework, and decorative elements inspired by Colorado’s state flower, the columbine. Following the 1894 fire that devastated the station’s interior, these facades were preserved through subsequent renovations in 1894 and 1914. Once utilized for offices and operational facilities, these wing buildings now accommodate guestrooms for the Crawford Hotel as well as several dining establishments.
The Great Hall originally showcased three large chandeliers along with ten wooden benches equipped with integrated heating and lighting. During the 2012 renovation, similar chandeliers were reinstalled; however, the benches were removed due to asbestos concerns. The interior color palette was transformed from brown and tan hues to a neutral white scheme. Former ticket counters and office spaces were converted into the Terminal Bar, complemented by new retail and restaurant venues opening onto the Great Hall. This renovation sought to create "Denver’s Living Room," broadening its purpose; it currently functions as a hotel lobby, Amtrak waiting area, retail environment, and public gathering place.