Union Station
Also known as: Union Station and Central Passenger Station; Union Passenger
Why it's listed
Union Station in Springfield, Illinois, is a brick passenger depot on Madison Street, designed in 1897 by Illinois Central Railroad architect Francis T. Bacon and completed in 1898 for about $75,000. Its Romanesque Revival design uses brown, red and buff pressed brick, Bedford limestone trim, a steep hip roof of red tile and copper, and Art Nouveau terra cotta details, over a wood frame. A 90-foot clock tower was removed in 1946, and two office bays were added in 1924. Inside, oak woodwork, marble, mosaics and original waiting room benches survive. The station served several railroads, opened direct Springfield to St. Louis service in 1900, and handled heavy traffic during State Fair seasons. It saw President McKinley's departure in 1898, a 1926 visit by Queen Marie of Rumania, and the 1936 Green Diamond diesel train celebration. Passenger service ended in 1971. It is considered the most intact Springfield station from the railroad era.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station reflects the importance and impact of railroads on a community like Springfield, and is a representative example of Romanesque Revival style adapted by midwestern architects. It is the most intact Springfield station from the Civil War to World War II era, and was the site of events such as a presidential departure in 1898 and the 1936 Green Diamond train visit.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001189, listed November 27, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Madison St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | November 27, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001189 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (constructed 1898) |
| Architect / builder | I.C.R.R. / Francis T. Bacon |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival with Sullivanesque details |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied and in fair condition; the last passenger train passed through on April 30, 1971. The structure is described as largely intact despite vandalism and minor fire damage. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 39.80370, -89.64834 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7581097
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.