The popularity of train travel has picked up in recent years, and luckily, there are still so many lovely, historical train stations to visit across the country. National Geographic rated some of the most beautiful train stations still in use today in the United States, and Los Angeles Union Station is 1 of 8 “historic design marvels” listed.
With the country becoming increasingly connected through train travel, these breath-takingly beautiful train stations still have “old-school opulence” and “remain icons of architecture.”
The 8 most beautiful train stations in the U.S.
According to National Geographic, here are the 8 most beautiful railway stations across the country:
- Union Station, Washington, D.C.
- Denver Union Station, Colorado
- Kansas City Union Station, Missouri
- Chicago Union Station, Illinois
- Los Angeles Union Station, California
- Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Pennsylvania
- Grand Central Terminal, New York
- Portland Union Station, Oregon
A timeless icon of West Coast rail travel
Completed in 1939, Los Angeles Union Station is widely considered “the last great train terminal built in the U.S.,” And it’s still the largest railway station in the West. At the time of its completion it was seen as a symbol of progress.
It was built with a unique blend of Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco, a style known as “Mission Moderne.” The station’s white stucco walls, terra cotta tile roof, and 127-foot clock tower still impress travelers today.
The grand Waiting Hall stuns with even more grandeur and opulence. It features a hand-painted beamed ceiling, towering 30-foot windows, six bronze chandeliers (each weighing over a ton), and original angular, wooden chairs. A recent eight-year restoration project even uncovered colorful California wildflower stencils in the Entry Vestibule that had been hidden under decades of grime.
Of course, with this being L.A., Union Station isn’t just a travel hub. It’s a famous film set as well. It’s graced the silver screen in over 150 movies, including Blade Runner, Catch Me If You Can, Pearl Harbor, and The Dark Knight Rises. Union Station holds a prominent place in both Hollywood history and America’s rail legacy.