Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot, Utah
Historic rail siteNow part of The Gateway and home to the Asher Adams hotel
The Union Pacific Depot was the center of passenger railroading in Salt Lake City from 1909 until 1986, and its Chateauesque towers, carved gargoyles and restored stained glass still make it one of the most striking railroad buildings in the West.
- Completed in 1909
- Passenger trains until 1986
- Restored murals and stained glass
- Chateauesque twin towers
- National Register of Historic Places
Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot at a glance
- Hours
- Exterior and plaza viewable anytime; interior access depends on the hotel and events
- Admission
- No admission charged to see the exterior
- Plan for
- About 30 to 45 minutes
- Best for
- Architecture lovers and rail history fans
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot? 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 Salt Lake City.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The grand depot that waited out the end of the line
Built in 1908 and 1909, the depot was originally called the Union Station and served as the center of passenger operations for Union Pacific and its subsidiary companies in Salt Lake City. Its builders set it on piles, since the site was believed to be an old riverbed, and gave it a reinforced concrete frame faced with stone from Glencoe, Wyoming on the first story and Salt Lake City pressed brick above. A few blocks away, the rival Denver and Rio Grande Western built its own grand station at the same time.
Passenger trains kept using the depot after Amtrak took over in May 1971, until October 1986, when Amtrak moved to the former Rio Grande depot. Union Pacific turned the building into offices and a training center, then donated it to the State of Utah in 1988. The state struggled to find a use for such a large building, and in 1996 it began talks with Salt Lake City and other agencies about redevelopment.
The surrounding rail yards were the key. After tough negotiations, Union Pacific, the city, the state and private developers reached agreements in October 1997, and in May 1999 crews began removing the tracks near the depot. Since December 1999 the station has belonged to the developers and managers of The Gateway, the outdoor retail, residential and office district beside it. As part of that work the main waiting room was restored, including the murals at each end and the stained glass along the upper west wall. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and today houses the Asher Adams hotel.
Towers, gargoyles and the Grand Hall
From the outside, look up: the depot's Early French Renaissance, or Chateauesque, design includes twin front towers with galvanized iron cornices, carved stone gargoyles, subtle quoins at the corners and a classical entry canopy, with many window bays of different shapes lighting the interior. It forms the main east-side entrance to The Gateway.
The former main waiting room, known as the Grand Hall, was restored to its earlier look, with murals at each end and cleaned and repaired stained glass windows high on the west wall. West of the depot, a grand stairway leads down to the Olympic Legacy Plaza, with an Olympic Wall of Honor, memorial paver stones, the dancing waters of the Olympic Snowflake Fountain and a surface stretch of City Creek.
Don’t miss
- The Grand Hall muralsThe restored murals at each end of the old waiting room are the centerpiece of the depot's interior.
- West wall stained glassCleaned and repaired during restoration, the stained glass along the upper west wall shows how grand a 1909 waiting room could be.
- Twin towers and gargoylesThe Chateauesque front, with carved stone gargoyles and galvanized iron cornices, is the depot's signature look.
- Olympic Snowflake FountainDown the grand stairway west of the depot, the fountain's dancing waters are an easy hit with kids.
Gargoyles to spot and a fountain to watch
This is a historic building in active use, not a hands-on train museum, so keep the visit short with little ones. Kids enjoy hunting for the carved gargoyles on the front and counting the stained glass windows inside, then heading down the stairway west of the depot to watch the Olympic Snowflake Fountain and the stream of City Creek.
Because the building is now a hotel and event space, be respectful of guests and private functions when you step inside.
Plan your visit: tips for Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot
- Look for the gargoyles and twin towers on the east-facing front.
- Walk west down the grand stairway to the Olympic Legacy Plaza.
- Pair it with the Rio Grande Depot, the rival station a few blocks away.
- The Grand Hall may be booked for receptions, so check before planning a look inside.
Who cares for the depot today
The depot is owned and managed as part of The Gateway and is home to the Asher Adams hotel. Rail historians, including the volunteers behind the UtahRails.net history site, keep its railroad story documented. Visitors support the building by enjoying it respectfully and patronizing the businesses that keep it in use.
Two depots and a short drive to more trains
The Historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot, the Union Pacific's old rival, is only a few blocks away. Drive about 16 miles to the S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum or about 32 miles to the Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station for locomotives and model trains. More ideas are on our Utah train museums page.
- Historic Denver & Rio Grande Western DepotSalt Lake City, UT · same town
- S&S Shortline Railroad Park & MuseumFarmington, UT · about 16 mi
- Tooele Valley Railroad MuseumTooele, UT · about 26 mi
- Heber Valley RailroadHeber City, UT · about 30 mi
- Ogden Union Station / Utah State Railroad MuseumOgden, UT · about 32 mi
- Historic Evanston Roundhouse & RailyardsEvanston, WY · about 60 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This old station now welcomes hotel guests with suitcases rolling across the same floor where train travelers once waited. In our book Rally packs too: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, all ready for Grandma and Grandpa's house. Every big trip begins with a little bag, and I love that this building still sees travelers arriving with theirs.
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
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
- Train museums in Utah: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Utah
- Halloween train rides in Utah
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
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.
Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot: 20 questions
Where is the Historic Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City?
The Union Pacific Depot stands on the western edge of downtown Salt Lake City, at the east side of The Gateway district. It forms the main east entrance to The Gateway, and a 20,000-seat arena, dedicated as the Delta Center, sits across the street. The Rio Grande Depot is a few blocks away.
When was the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot built?
The depot was built in 1908 and 1909 and completed in 1909. It was originally called the Union Station and served as the center of railroad passenger operations for Union Pacific and its subsidiary companies in Salt Lake City for most of the 20th century.
Is the Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City still a train station?
No. Passenger trains used the depot until October 1986, when Amtrak moved to the former Rio Grande depot. Union Pacific then used it for offices and training, and since 1999 it has been part of The Gateway development. The tracks around it were removed starting in May 1999.
Is the Union Pacific Depot now a hotel?
Yes. The historic depot is now home to the Asher Adams hotel, an Autograph Collection property. Earlier, its wings held retail stores and a nightclub, and the restored waiting room, called the Grand Hall, was used for receptions and banquets.
Can you go inside the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
The building is in active use as a hotel and event space, so interior access depends on its current operations. The restored waiting room has historically been open as part of the public space at The Gateway. Ask at the front desk, and respect any private events.
What is the Grand Hall at the Union Pacific Depot?
The Grand Hall is the depot's former main waiting room. During redevelopment it was restored to its earlier appearance, including the murals at each end of the room and the stained glass windows along the upper west wall, and it has been used for receptions and banquets.
What style of architecture is the Union Pacific Depot?
The Historic American Buildings Survey describes the depot as Early French Renaissance, or Chateauesque. Look for twin front towers with galvanized iron cornices, carved stone gargoyles, faint quoins at the corners, a classical entry canopy and stained glass windows.
What is the Union Pacific Depot built from?
The depot has a reinforced concrete structure faced with stone from Glencoe, Wyoming on the first story and Salt Lake City pressed brick on the remaining walls. It was built on piles because the site was believed to be an old riverbed.
Is the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. The depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Historic American Buildings Survey documented its architecture. It is one of two grand early 20th century stations still standing on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City.
Who owns the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
Union Pacific donated the depot to the State of Utah in 1988. Since December 1999 it has been owned by a series of developers and management companies connected with The Gateway, the retail, residential and office district built next to it. It now houses the Asher Adams hotel.
Why did Amtrak leave the Union Pacific Depot?
Amtrak continued using the depot after taking over passenger service in May 1971, but in October 1986 it moved its operations to the former Denver and Rio Grande Western depot a few blocks away. After that, Union Pacific converted the space into offices and a training center.
What is the Olympic Legacy Plaza near the Union Pacific Depot?
West of the depot, down a grand stairway, the Olympic Legacy Plaza features an Olympic Wall of Honor, memorial paver stones, the dancing waters of the Olympic Snowflake Fountain and a surface-running part of City Creek. It makes a pleasant stop after viewing the depot.
Is the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot good for kids?
It works as a short stop. Kids can look for gargoyles on the front, spot the stained glass inside and then watch the Olympic Snowflake Fountain on the plaza below. It is not a hands-on train museum, so pair it with a place like Ogden Union Station for trains to explore.
How much does it cost to visit the Union Pacific Depot?
There is no admission charge to view the depot's exterior or walk the Olympic Legacy Plaza. The building is now a hotel, so any interior access is at the discretion of the hotel and its events. Dining or staying there would be priced by the hotel.
What are the Union Pacific Depot hours?
No museum-style hours are posted, because the depot is a working hotel and part of The Gateway. The exterior and plaza can be seen at any time. If you hope to see the Grand Hall, ask the hotel about access before you go, as private events may be underway.
How long should I spend at the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
About 30 to 45 minutes is enough to admire the facade, peek at the restored waiting room if it is open, and walk down to the Olympic Legacy Plaza. Add time to walk a few blocks to the Rio Grande Depot and compare the two rival stations.
What was the rivalry between Salt Lake City's two depots?
The Union Pacific Depot was completed in 1909, and the Denver and Rio Grande Western answered with its own grand station a few blocks away in 1910, each railroad hoping to impress. Both buildings survive, and later Amtrak used each in turn as the city's passenger station.
Where can I learn more about the Union Pacific Depot's railroad history?
UtahRails.net, a long-running rail history site, has a detailed page on Union Pacific's Salt Lake City depot, covering its passenger years, its donation to the state and its redevelopment. Local history sites and the National Register listing add more about its architecture.
Is there parking at the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
No depot-specific parking details are posted. As part of The Gateway district on the west side of downtown, it is surrounded by city parking options. Check The Gateway or the hotel for current parking information before you visit.
What train museums are near the Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot?
The Historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot is a few blocks away. The S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum is about 16 miles, the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum about 26 miles, the Heber Valley Railroad about 30 miles, and the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden about 32 miles.
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