Alexandria Union Station, Virginia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Alexandria, Virginia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Historic rail siteWaiting room and exhibits open daily, 6 am to 8:45 pm

Alexandria Union Station, built in 1905 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a working Amtrak and VRE station with interpretive exhibits, and the city's only remaining public building that recalls its long railroad history.

  • Built in 1905
  • National Register of Historic Places
  • Designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Restored by the city in 1997
  • Amtrak and VRE trains stop here

Alexandria Union Station at a glance

Hours
Waiting room open daily, 6 am to 8:45 pm
Admission
No admission is posted for the exhibits
Train rides
Amtrak and VRE trains stop here; tickets through those operators
Plan for
About 20 to 45 minutes
Best for
Architecture lovers and kids who like watching trains
Best ages
All ages
Parking
The city lists parking at Union Station; check its page for details
Accessibility
The 1997 restoration addressed accessibility requirements

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Alexandria Union Station? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Alexandria.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A union of rail lines, built in a Federal key

Alexandria Union Station opened in 1905. Its name comes from the way it was created: several rail lines serving Alexandria were consolidated, or united, into one passenger station. The Pennsylvania Railroad's office of the chief engineer in Philadelphia drew the plans, and architectural historians tie the idea to the Senate Parks Commission, or McMillan, Plan of 1901 and 1902, which also called for a single station in Washington.

The design is what makes it stand out. Most depots of the day were built in bold Victorian or Beaux Arts styles, but Alexandria's is a delicate Colonial Revival building with Federal details, borrowing from architecture of the years just after the Revolution. The City of Alexandria says that choice suits a city with Alexandria's history, and the influence of the City Beautiful movement shows in its sense of arrival.

The station is made up of two one-story buildings, a passenger depot and a baggage building. In 1997 the City of Alexandria led a restoration, funded through the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, that addressed accessibility and added a glass-enclosed breezeway joining the two. Virginia's Department of Historic Resources calls it the only Colonial Revival public building of its era in Alexandria.

Exhibits in a working waiting room

The station is a working stop for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, and its waiting room doubles as a place to learn the building's story through interpretive exhibits. Exhibit topics are not detailed online, so give yourself a few minutes to read the panels and then step outside to look at the two buildings and the 1997 glass breezeway between them. To avoid mix-ups with Washington Union Station, the station is often listed simply as Alexandria.

Don’t miss

  1. The Colonial Revival facadeA rare choice for a 1905 depot, with Federal details instead of the heavier styles most railroads used.
  2. The glass breezewayAdded during the 1997 restoration to join the passenger depot and the baggage building.
  3. The interpretive exhibitsDisplays in the station share its history with travelers and visitors alike.

Watch the trains, then read the station's story

Kids can watch Amtrak and VRE trains come and go from a station that has been doing the job since 1905, then step inside to see the exhibits. The waiting room keeps long hours, which makes an early or evening train-watching stop easy. Hold hands near the platforms, since this is an active station.

Plan your visit: tips for Alexandria Union Station

  • Search for Alexandria station, not Union Station, to avoid confusion with Washington.
  • Go early or late; the waiting room is open 6 am to 8:45 pm daily.
  • Look at both buildings and the breezeway from outside before heading in.
  • Pair the stop with one of the city museums run by the Office of Historic Alexandria.

Cared for by the Office of Historic Alexandria

The station is one of the City of Alexandria's historic sites, overseen by the Office of Historic Alexandria, which was founded in 1982 and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Visitors can support its work by becoming a member, making a gift or volunteering through Historic Alexandria.

Trains and trolleys near Alexandria

Union Station in Washington, DC is about 7 miles away, the National Capital Trolley Museum about 20 miles, and the Manassas Railroad Depot about 22 miles west, another historic depot still served by VRE. Browse Virginia train museums and depots for more ideas.

Every train museum in Virginia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Union Station has welcomed travelers since 1905, and I like to think of all the conductors who have stood on its platforms reaching down to help someone aboard. That is my favorite small kindness in our book: Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holds out his hand to Rally, who is riding with Mom and Dad to see his grand-paw-rents. You can learn how the book began on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Alexandria Union Station?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Alexandria Union Station: 20 questions answered

What is Alexandria Union Station?

Alexandria Union Station is a historic passenger station in Alexandria, Virginia, built in 1905 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is still used by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, and the City of Alexandria invites visitors to stop by to see its interpretive exhibits or to catch a train.

Where is Alexandria Union Station?

The station is at 110 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, just south of Washington, DC. To avoid confusion with Washington Union Station, it is often listed simply as Alexandria, so use that name or the street address when you search for directions or train tickets.

What are the hours at Alexandria Union Station?

As of October 2026, the station waiting room is open daily from 6 am to 8:45 pm for Amtrak passengers and other visitors. The interpretive exhibits are in the station, so plan your visit within those hours. Train times are separate, so check Amtrak or VRE if you want to see a train.

Is it free to see the exhibits at Alexandria Union Station?

No admission fee is posted for the interpretive exhibits at Alexandria Union Station. The waiting room is open to visitors as well as passengers during its daily hours. If you are bringing a school or tour group, contact the Office of Historic Alexandria through the city website first.

When was Alexandria Union Station built?

Alexandria Union Station was built in 1905. It was designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad's office of the chief engineer in Philadelphia, and its name reflects the consolidation, or union, of several rail lines in Alexandria into a single passenger station. It was restored by the city in 1997.

Why is it called Union Station in Alexandria?

The name comes from its creation as a union station: rail lines serving Alexandria and the greater Washington area were consolidated into one passenger station. Architectural historians link it to the McMillan Plan of 1901 and 1902, which proposed a single unifying station for Washington and recommended the same idea for Alexandria.

What architectural style is Alexandria Union Station?

It is Colonial Revival with Federal details, an unusual choice for 1905, when most depots were built in bolder Victorian or Beaux Arts styles. The style borrows from buildings constructed just after the American Revolution, which the city says makes it especially fitting for Alexandria. City Beautiful ideas also shaped its design.

Is Alexandria Union Station on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. Alexandria Union Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Virginia's Department of Historic Resources notes that it is the only Colonial Revival public building of its era in Alexandria and the only remaining building that recalls the city's long railroad history.

Does Amtrak stop at Alexandria Union Station?

Yes. Alexandria Union Station is used by Amtrak and by Virginia Railway Express commuter trains. The waiting room opens at 6 am and closes at 8:45 pm daily. Buy tickets and check schedules directly with Amtrak or VRE, and allow time to look at the exhibits while you wait.

Does VRE stop at Alexandria Union Station?

Yes. Virginia Railway Express commuter trains use Alexandria Union Station along with Amtrak. For schedules, fares and service alerts, go to VRE directly. Families visiting the exhibits can often time their stop to watch a commuter train arrive at the 1905 platforms.

Is Alexandria Union Station wheelchair accessible?

The city says the 1997 restoration addressed accessibility requirements at the station. For details on entrances, restrooms and platform access, check with Amtrak or VRE before traveling, or contact the Office of Historic Alexandria through the city's website if you are visiting the exhibits.

Is there parking at Alexandria Union Station?

The City of Alexandria's page for the station includes a section on parking at Union Station, so check it before you go for current options and rules. If you are leaving a car while you ride Amtrak or VRE, confirm time limits and fees on the city or rail operator websites.

Is Alexandria Union Station good for kids?

Yes, as a short stop. Kids can watch Amtrak and VRE trains at a station that has served travelers since 1905, then look at the interpretive exhibits inside. Long daily hours make it easy to fit in, and it pairs well with other Alexandria museums for a fuller day.

How long does it take to see the Alexandria Union Station exhibits?

Most visitors need twenty to forty-five minutes to read the interpretive exhibits, look at the building's two parts and the glass breezeway, and watch a train or two. If you are catching a train, arrive a little early and use the wait to see the exhibits.

What was restored at Alexandria Union Station in 1997?

In 1997 the City of Alexandria led a restoration funded through the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The work addressed accessibility requirements and added a glass-enclosed breezeway connecting the passenger depot and the baggage building, the two one-story buildings that make up the station.

Who manages Alexandria Union Station as a historic site?

The station is one of the City of Alexandria's historic sites, listed under the Office of Historic Alexandria. That office was founded in 1982, runs the city's museums and historic sites, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Amtrak and VRE handle train service.

Is Alexandria Union Station the same as Washington Union Station?

No. Alexandria Union Station is a separate, smaller station in Alexandria, Virginia, built in 1905. Washington Union Station is about 7 miles away in DC. Because the names are so close, Alexandria's station is often called simply Alexandria, so double check the city when booking tickets.

Are there Christmas events at Alexandria Union Station?

No holiday train events are posted for Alexandria Union Station. The Office of Historic Alexandria runs many city museums and programs, so check its event listings for seasonal activities. For a holiday train ride, look at heritage railroads in Virginia and nearby Maryland.

How can I support Alexandria Union Station?

Support for the station as a historic site runs through Historic Alexandria, which welcomes members, gifts and volunteers for the city's museums and historic sites. Riding Amtrak or VRE from the station also helps keep it a working part of the community rather than a closed landmark.

What train museums are near Alexandria Union Station?

Union Station in Washington, DC, is about 7 miles away. The National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville and the Bowie Railroad Museum are each about 20 to 21 miles away, and the Manassas Railroad Depot, another working historic station, is about 22 miles west.

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