1893: The Hoosier State Gets a New Train Station

August 15, 1893

Construction was completed on a passenger train station at Ninth and Spruce Streets in Terre Haute, Indiana. Terre Haute Union Station was designed by Cincinnati-based architect Samuel Hannaford.

In the course of its 67 years of existence, this three-and-a-half-story building served the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad; the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad; the Pennsylvania Railroad; and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.

The more famous individuals who spent time at Terre Haute Union Station included showman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody; entertainer Jack Benny; and U.S. presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley; Theodore Roosevelt; William Howard Taft; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry S Truman; and Richard M. Nixon.

Terre Haute Union Station was demolished in June 1960. A crowd of about 1,000 people witnessed this event.

(The above postcard featuring Terre Haute Union Station was created sometime around 1910.)

Image Credit: Public Domain For more information on Terre Haute Union Station, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terre_Haute_Union_Station