Columbia, TN Union Station

The old Union Station in Columbia was built in 1902 replacing an older, long demolished, building that had stood nearby. It served the community for both Louisville & Nashville, NCStL and Duck River Valley Narrow Gauge Railroad and was in use until the 1960s when passenger service was discontinued with cancelled freight and parcel service following. This building once served as one of the hubs of the community but is unused and neglected today despite its presence on the National Register of Historic Places.

Union Station (View from Demonbreun Viaduct)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Nashville)
The depot was built in 1900 in a castle-like late-Victorian Romanesque Revival style. The clock on the tower was one of the earliest digital clocks, but is now a traditional clock. Atop the tower used to be a 3D statue of the Roman god Mercury, but was knocked off in a windstorm in the 50s. In the mid-90s, a flat Mercury was put in its place. That one was knocked off in the 98 tornado, but was replaced again.

The station became vacant in 1979 after train service was discontinued. It opened as a luxury hotel in March of 1990, and is now a Marriott hotel.

An architecturally significant train shed used to be located right next to the station, but it's deteriorating condition, plus lack of any conceivable use led to it being demolished a few years ago, which caused Union Station to lose its status as a National Historic Landmark.

Model Train Version of Nashville Landmarks: Union Station

For many years, Nashville had a Children's Museum on Second Ave. S. At the time, they had a large model train display which involved 1:48 O-scale trains rumbling around scaled replicas of local landmarks, such as Union Station, the L&C Tower and Woodmont Christian Church.

The Children's museum was relocated in 1974 to Fort Negley hill where it became the Cumberland Science Museum (and is now the Adventure Science Center). The model trains were not a part of the relocation and are now part of the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. These O Gauge buildings were built to scale using light wood, paper, cardboard, and glue by members of the Nashville Association of Model Engineers around 1955.

Post Card Tuesday: Nashville's Union Station

This Post card of one of Nashville's most popular landmarks dates back to 1902.

The depot was built in 1900, just a couple of years before the post card was made, in a castle-like late-Victorian Romanesque Revial style. The clock on the tower was one of the earliest digital clocks, but is now a traditional clock. Atop the tower used to be a 3D statue of the Roman god Mercury, but was kncoked off in a windstorm in the 50s. In the mid-90s, a flat Mercury was put in its place. That one was knocked off in the 98 tornado, but was replaced again.

The station became vacant in 1979 after train service was discontinued. It opened as a luxury hotel in March of 1990, and is now a Wyndham hotel.

An architecturally significant train shed used to be located right next to the station, but it's deteriorating condition, plus lack of any conceivable use led to it being demolished a few years ago, which caused Union Station to lose its status as a National Historic Landmark.

Most views of Union station (like the one above) tend to look from the front across the street (broadway). This is a fuller view of the building from the side, taken from the Broadway viaduct.

Inside Union Station: The Ceiling

I don't dabble in HDR all too often, but there are certain places where I feel that it works with what I am trying to accomplish. Inside Nashville's majestic 1900 Union Station felt like one such place I should use it.

Much of the building is majestic, and the main lobby is about 4 to 5 stories tall. Trains ceased coming to the station in 1979, but in 1990 it was restored and opened as a luxury hotel. Much of the ceiling is stained glass.

Art of Nashville's Union Station

When Union Station opened in Nashville in 1900, visitors were amazed at the impressiveness of the station, and in particular the artwork in the lobby. On each end of the lobby is a massive clock, with a figure on either side and above a bas-relief sculpture.

Shown here are two figures, one female and one male, angels representing time and progress. The sculpture is an Egyptian pharoah in a chariot.

The last trian pulled up at Union Station in the 70's. In the late 80's the station was opened as a hotel, and in 2007 the entire lobby underwent an extensive renovation, which involved cleaning the sculpture and polishing the gold leaf.

Art of Nashville's Union Station: Locomotive sculpture

When Union Station opened in Nashville in 1900, visitors were amazed at the impressiveness of the station, and in particular the artwork in the lobby. On each end of the lobby is a massive clock, with a figure on either side and above a bas-relief sculpture.

Shown here is one of those sculptures. This one depicts a steam locomotive, engine #108.

The last trian pulled up at Union Station in the 70's. In the late 80's the station was opened as a hotel, and in 2007 the entire lobby underwent an extensive renovation.

Union Station scheduling chart

Inside the lobby of Nashville's Union Station, behind the front desk, is this chart showing all of the train schedules. It is held over from the days that the station was a thriving train depot. It shows many departures and arivals, North and South, and both companies which serviced the area, L&N and NC&StL. On the marble counter-top are three apples.

Union Station

Most views of Union station tend to look from the front across the street (broadway). This is a fuller view of the building from the side, taken from the Broadway viaduct.

The depot was built in 1900 in a castle-like late-Victorian Romanesque Revial style. The clock on the tower was one of the earliest digital clocks, but is now a traditional clock. Atop the tower used to be a 3D statue of the Roman god Mercury, but was kncoked off in a windstorm in the 50s. In the mid-90s, a flat Mercury was put in its place. That one was knocked off in the 98 tornado, but was replaced again.

The station became vacant in 1979 after train service was discontinued. It opened as a luxury hotel in March of 1990, and is now a Wyndham hotel.

An architecturally significant train shed used to be located right next to the station, but it's deteriorating condition, plus lack of any conceivable use led to it being demolished a few years ago, which caused Union Station to lose its status as a National Historic Landmark.