Marion Union Station Association, Ohio

Oct 19

Marion, Ohio · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Depot museumHours are not posted online; check the association's Facebook page before visiting

Built in 1902 to serve several railroads at once, Marion Union Station is now cared for by the Marion Union Station Association as a railroad museum, event venue and train-watching spot with nearly 60 trains passing each day.

Station built in 1902
Nearly 60 trains a day
Marble walls and mosaic tile floors
Stained-glass skylight
Served C&O, Big Four and Erie

Marion Union Station Association at a glance

Hours: Not posted online; check the association's Facebook page or call
Admission: Not posted online; check before you go
Best for: Rail fans and families who like watching trains

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

Contact and directions

Address532 W Center St, Marion, OH 43302(opens in a new tab)
Phone(740) 383-3768

Follow Marion Union Station Association

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Marion Union Station Association? 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 Marion.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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

A union station where three railroads met

Marion Union Station opened in 1902 at 532 West Center Street. As a union station it served several lines under one roof: the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (the Big Four, acquired in 1906 by the New York Central) and the Erie Railroad.

Passenger trains are long gone, but the building is not. The Marion Union Station Association now looks after the station as a railroad museum, an event venue and a gathering place for rail fans. Inside, visitors find the marble walls, mosaic tile floors and stained-glass skylight of a station built when rail travel was the center of town life.

Detailed history of the association and its collection is not posted on a website, so the best source is the association's Facebook page, where it shares news and photos with more than 2,700 followers.

Marble, mosaic and a front-row seat to the junction

The station building itself is the main exhibit, with its marble walls, mosaic tile floors and stained-glass skylight. Outside, trains keep coming: the local visitors bureau says nearly 60 pass through Marion daily, which makes the station a favorite stop for rail fans. Confirm what museum rooms are open before you go.

Don’t miss

The stained-glass skylightThe visitors bureau singles it out as a highlight of the 1902 interior.
The marble walls and mosaic tile floorsOriginal finishes that show how much care went into a busy union station.
Train watching outside the stationWith nearly 60 trains a day, there is usually something rolling past.

Counting trains in Marion

Kids who love watching real freight trains will have plenty to see, since trains pass the station often throughout the day. The association does not post kids' programs or age guidance online, so message it on Facebook to ask what is open for families.

Plan your visit: tips for Marion Union Station Association

Message the association on Facebook to confirm open hours before driving out.
Directory listings give the phone as (740) 383-3768.
Use 532 W Center St, Marion, as the address.

The association that keeps the depot open

The Marion Union Station Association cares for the station and operates it as a museum and event venue. The best way to support it, learn about volunteering or ask about renting the station for an event is to contact the association through its Facebook page.

More rail history within an hour of Marion

The Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington is about 35 miles south. The Fostoria Iron Triangle Railpark, another top train-watching spot, is about 42 miles north, and the Ohio History Connection railroad collection in Columbus is about 44 miles. See our Ohio train museum guide for the full list.

Every train museum in Ohio

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Old stations like Marion's were built for crowds stepping on and off tall passenger cars. In our book, Rally's little corgi legs cannot manage those big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. I think about that every time I see a grand old depot: so many families helping each other aboard. You can read 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

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)

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Work or volunteer at Marion Union Station Association?

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

Marion Union Station Association on Facebook(opens in a new tab)

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

Marion Union Station Association: 20 questions answered

What is the Marion Union Station Association?

The Marion Union Station Association is the group that cares for Marion Union Station, the 1902 depot in Marion, Ohio. It operates the building as a railroad museum, an event venue and a train-watching location. The association shares its news, photos and open days on its Facebook page.

Where is Marion Union Station?

Marion Union Station is at 532 West Center Street, Marion, Ohio 43302. The station stands beside the town's busy rail lines, which is why rail fans like to visit. Use the Center Street address in your GPS, and check the association's Facebook page for parking details before you go.

When is Marion Union Station open?

The Marion Union Station Association does not post regular museum hours on a website. Its Facebook page is the best place to check open days and events. Directory listings give a phone number of (740) 383-3768, so you can also call ahead to confirm before making the drive.

How much does it cost to visit Marion Union Station?

Admission prices are not posted online. The association may charge for some events and not others, so ask before you visit. Message the Marion Union Station Association on Facebook or call (740) 383-3768 to find out about fees and whether the museum rooms will be open.

Where can I see photos of Marion Union Station?

The Marion Union Station Association posts photos of the station, its events and passing trains on its Facebook page, which has more than 2,700 followers. The Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau also features the station on its website, describing the marble walls, mosaic tile floors and stained-glass skylight.

What do reviews say about Marion Union Station?

The local visitors bureau calls the station a premier train-watching location and a favorite destination for rail fans, thanks to nearly 60 trains a day passing through. For first-hand visitor reviews, look at the association's Facebook page, where visitors check in and leave comments.

When was Marion Union Station built?

Marion Union Station was built in 1902. It was designed as a union station, meaning several railroads shared the same depot. Today, more than a century later, it serves as a railroad museum and event venue under the care of the Marion Union Station Association.

Which railroads used Marion Union Station?

As a union station it served several lines: the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, known as the Big Four, which the New York Central acquired in 1906, and the Erie Railroad. Having them under one roof made Marion an important junction town.

How many trains pass Marion Union Station each day?

According to the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, nearly 60 trains pass through Marion daily. That steady traffic is why the station is known as one of the better places in Ohio to watch trains, and why rail fans travel to Marion to see them.

Is Marion Union Station a good place to watch trains?

Yes. The station sits beside lines that carry nearly 60 trains a day, and the visitors bureau calls it a premier train-watching location. Rail fans visit year-round to watch and photograph trains. Stay in public areas around the station and well clear of the tracks.

What is inside Marion Union Station?

The 1902 station has marble walls, mosaic tile floors and a stained-glass skylight, original details from the era when it handled passengers for several railroads. It now holds a railroad museum and space for events. Ask the association which rooms and displays are open on the day you visit.

Can you ride a train at Marion Union Station?

Regular passenger service no longer stops at the station, and the Marion Union Station Association does not post a train ride schedule online. Visitors come to tour the depot and watch freight trains go by. Check the association's Facebook page in case it announces special events.

Can I rent Marion Union Station for an event?

The station is described as an event venue as well as a museum, so private events may be possible. The association does not post rental details or prices online. Message the Marion Union Station Association on Facebook or call (740) 383-3768 to ask about dates and availability.

Is Marion Union Station good for kids?

Kids who love trains usually enjoy watching the real freight trains roll past, and with nearly 60 a day there is rarely a long wait. The association does not post specific children's programs online, so ask on Facebook what is open for families when you plan to visit.

Is Marion Union Station wheelchair accessible?

The association does not publish accessibility details online. Because the station is a historic 1902 building, it is a good idea to ask about entrances, restrooms and floor surfaces before your visit. Message the Marion Union Station Association on Facebook or call (740) 383-3768.

Does Marion Union Station have Christmas or holiday events?

The association does not list holiday events on a website. Seasonal events, if any, are announced on its Facebook page, so follow the page in the fall to catch any holiday plans. For holiday train rides elsewhere in the state, look at other Ohio railroads that run seasonal trains.

How long should I spend at Marion Union Station?

The museum does not suggest a visit length. A look around the station's interior may not take long, but rail fans who come to watch trains often stay much longer, since traffic is frequent. Plan your time around open hours, which are shared on the association's Facebook page.

How do I contact the Marion Union Station Association?

The association's main public channel is its Facebook page, where you can send a message. Directory listings also give a phone number of (740) 383-3768 and the station address of 532 West Center Street, Marion, Ohio 43302. No public email address is listed online.

How can I support or volunteer with the Marion Union Station Association?

The association does not post membership or volunteer details on a website. If you would like to help care for the station, donate or volunteer at events, send a message through its Facebook page or call (740) 383-3768 to ask how to get involved.

What train museums are near Marion Union Station?

The Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington is about 35 miles away, the Fostoria Iron Triangle Railpark about 42 miles, and the Ohio History Connection railroad collection in Columbus about 44 miles. The Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue is about 49 miles north.

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Kelsey Cecil