Posted in Arizona August 19, 2019 by

This Fascinating Abandoned Train Station In Arizona Is A True Piece Of History

Trains are one of the oldest forms of transportation out there, which means abandoned depots are scattered all across the country. Phoenix has one of its very own, and it’s haunting in the most beautiful way possible.

Constructed in 1923, Union Station served the Phoenix area for over 70 years. The depot's full life and rich history earned it a well-deserved spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Google/Daniel Metcalf
Situated in the very heart of downtown, passengers had a front-row seat to the center of all the action.
Melikamp / Wikipedia Commons
This strategic placement would prove extremely important in later years, as Arizona started becoming a more popular destination to visit.
Up until 1996, the depot was Amtrak. It was served by the Los Angeles-New Orleans "Sunset Limited" and Los Angeles-Chicago "Texas Eagle."
Flickr/sillygwailo
It was also a stopover for both the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads, both of which are no longer in operation.
Drew Jacksich / Wikipedia Commons
Although passenger trains no longer pass through Union Station, its historical significance cannot be denied.
Regarded as a milestone in Phoenix's development, the depot allowed for tourism to blossom on a grand scale.
Flickr/cmhpictures
It also launched a town with little-to-no former visibility into the national conversation and can be partially implicated for how prosperous the valley is today.
So although you won't hear any train whistles blaring at Union Station, the engines that traversed these very tracks left behind an undeniable legacy.
Google/Daniel Metcalf
If you focus hard enough, their presence is almost still tangible in the air.
Address: 401 West Harrison Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
Google Maps
Feel free to drop by any time and explore, as there are no set visiting hours.

Have you ever been to the abandoned Union Station? Are there any other Arizona train depots that haven’t been in operation for decades? Let us know, and check out our previous article in the meantime to learn about an awesome train-Themed Restaurant in Arizona: This Historic Arizona Train Depot Is Now A Beautiful Restaurant Right On The Tracks.