Washington´s Union Station - a landmark strongly rejected and ignored by local residents and tourists. Rejected not as a train station but as a point of interest on the long list of interesting places to see in Washington. One of the reasons may be it´s location set aside from the usual beaten path. Even though it´s in the center of town and also faces the capitol, it´s not in line with the big museums and memorials along and around the National Mall. But it´s definitely worth a visit. I have been there a couple of times, street parking is available if you´re willing to walk a small distance (the station´s parking garage has the usual cut-throat tariffs) and there´s also a station of metro´s red line.

But still, more than 30 million people visit the station a year. These are train passengers, bus and metro commuters, and above all, many hill staffers and others working in the surrounding government departments, agencies and firms, who use the multitude of restaurants, snack places, shops and services located within the station.

Union Station was completed in 1907 being an impressive landmark right from the beginning. As many other Washington D.C. public and official buildings, it is built in neo-classical style with many references to famous ancient buildings of greek and roman times.

Main entrance and parts of Columbus Circle. The six figures above the entrance are called

and represent the "Progress of Railroading". They are:

- Archimedes (mechanics)     - Ceres (agriculture)     - Apollo (imagination and inspiration)     

- Themis (freedom and justice)     - Thales (electricity)     - Prometheus (fire).

One of three entrance arcs.

Arcades

The main hall (unfortunately still under renovation) with it´s architectural reference to the

Baths of Diocletian. Many expensive materials such as marble, gold leafs and

white granite were used during construction.

Three levels of restaurants, shops and services. The lower level used to accommodate the baggage

and mail rooms. In 1953 a locomotive crashed through the main floor into the

basement - the only major accident with luckily no fatalities.

A busy station.

The station´s east wing has an upscale fashion boutique court.

See more pics of Union Station and Washington D.C.