Cincinnati's beautiful art deco style Union Terminal was completed in 1933. During its prime as a passenger train station, it had a capacity of 216 trains per day, 108 in and 108 out. After years of declining rail traffic, it was down to two trains per day when Amtrak took over in 1971. The station was abandoned by Amtrak in 1972.
The original terminal had large mosaic murals by Winhold Reiss. The concourse had fourteen 20-by-20-foot mosaic panels representing local industries and a large world map mural located at the rear of the concourse. Most of the concourse and the map mural were destroyed in 1974. The mosaic panels were moved to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and can be seen on the airport website here.
The part of the building where the lobby was located has been preserved and is now the home of Cincinnati Museum Center. A closeup of the rotunda lobby mural shown on the postcard can be seen on the Cincinnati Museum Center website here. The lobby murals were 105 feet long and 22 feet high. They depicted America working people.
The original terminal had large mosaic murals by Winhold Reiss. The concourse had fourteen 20-by-20-foot mosaic panels representing local industries and a large world map mural located at the rear of the concourse. Most of the concourse and the map mural were destroyed in 1974. The mosaic panels were moved to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and can be seen on the airport website here.
The part of the building where the lobby was located has been preserved and is now the home of Cincinnati Museum Center. A closeup of the rotunda lobby mural shown on the postcard can be seen on the Cincinnati Museum Center website here. The lobby murals were 105 feet long and 22 feet high. They depicted America working people.
It's a shame for historic locations like that to be destroyed. At least we have old postcards to illustrate all the magnificent things we've lost.
ReplyDeleteThanks Postcardy for featuring one of my favorite places.
ReplyDeleteAs you note, Union Terminal was not destroyed. In fact, it is home to several museums and archives including the Cincinnati Historical Society archives. Many of the murals are intact in either the Museum Center or the airport.