New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, Louisiana
Historic rail siteTrain ridesFreeWorking Amtrak station; check Amtrak for station hours
The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal opened on January 8, 1954, to bring the city's passenger trains under one roof, and its sweeping murals of Louisiana history still line the walls of a station that serves Amtrak every day.
- Opened January 8, 1954
- Replaced five separate depots
- Murals of Louisiana history
- Three long-distance Amtrak routes
- Streetcar at the door
New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal at a glance
- Hours
- Station hours vary; check Amtrak.com before visiting
- Admission
- Free to enter the public station areas
- Train rides
- Amtrak trains and the Rampart-Loyola streetcar depart from the terminal
- Plan for
- About 30 minutes for the murals, longer to watch trains
- Best for
- Rail fans, history lovers and families taking the train
- Best ages
- Ages 4 and up
- Parking
- A city-owned parking lot serves the station
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal? 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 New Orleans.
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.
Five depots become one modern terminal
Before 1954, New Orleans passengers were spread across five separate depots, and trains crossed busy city streets at dangerous grade crossings throughout the central city. The answer was a single union station. Built between 1947 and 1954 for $2.2 million, the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal opened on January 8, 1954, on Loyola Avenue. The city owned it, but the railroads built it and paid for it.
It was an ultra-modern building for its day, and it was the only air-conditioned station in the nation. At opening it was planned for 44 passenger trains a day and seven railroads, although one partner, the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, ended its New Orleans passenger service just before the doors opened. The terminal is a stub-end station, where trains pull in and back out rather than running through. It is often described as the last major American passenger terminal of the classic railway era.
The station has changed hands in how it is run but never stopped serving travelers. The City of New Orleans owns the building, the platforms, the tracks and the parking lot, and the New Orleans Building Corporation took on management of the terminal and new projects around it. In fiscal year 2025 the station counted 188,132 Amtrak riders.
Murals, a mid-century hall and trains on the platform
The main reason to linger is the series of colorful murals that wrap the walls, telling the history of Louisiana from the age of exploration through the middle of the twentieth century. The frescoes do not shy away from hard history: colonizers, soldiers, Klansmen, scientists and sharecroppers all appear, so older children may have questions worth talking through.
Beyond the art, the terminal itself is the exhibit. Its Mid-Century Modern design still shows the confidence of the early 1950s, and it remains a busy intermodal hub. Amtrak's City of New Orleans, Crescent and Sunset Limited trains use the platforms, Greyhound and Megabus coaches arrive and leave, and city buses and the Rampart-Loyola streetcar stop outside.
Don’t miss
- The Louisiana history muralsA long series of frescoes covering the state's story from exploration to the mid-1900s, the station's best known feature.
- The Mid-Century Modern terminalBuilt from 1947 to 1954, it was the nation's only air-conditioned station when it opened.
- Amtrak departuresThree long-distance trains, the City of New Orleans, the Crescent and the Sunset Limited, start or end their runs here.
- The Rampart-Loyola streetcarA direct streetcar connection that lets families pair a station visit with a ride on the city's historic street railway.
Watching real trains come and go
For train-loving kids, this is a chance to see full-size Amtrak trains and the people who run them, not engines behind a rope. The murals are big and full of detail, though some scenes show difficult history that parents may want to preview. Pair the visit with a ride on the Rampart-Loyola streetcar out front for an easy rail morning.
Remember that this is a working station, not a museum. Keep children close near doors and platform areas, and follow staff directions.
Plan your visit: tips for New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
- Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for Amtrak fares and schedules.
- Time your visit near a train arrival or departure to see one on the platform.
- Preview the murals' harder scenes before bringing young kids.
- Use the Rampart-Loyola streetcar to arrive without driving.
A city station kept busy by its travelers
The City of New Orleans owns the terminal, and the New Orleans Building Corporation manages it, while Amtrak runs the passenger trains that use it. The best way to support the station is to ride: every trip helps keep long-distance rail service flowing through New Orleans.
Round out a New Orleans rail day
The New Orleans streetcars connect right outside, about a mile from the heart of the system, and the Louisiana Steam Train Association has been based about 4 miles away. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge's old depot is about 75 miles upriver. For planning, see all Louisiana train museums or our tips on Amtrak routes with kids.
- New Orleans Streetcar historic operationsNew Orleans, LA · about 1 mi
- Louisiana Steam Train AssociationNew Orleans area, LA · about 4 mi
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum historic railroad depotBaton Rouge, LA · about 75 mi
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 75 mi
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 92 mi
- Historic Hattiesburg Train DepotHattiesburg, MS · about 106 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Our book follows a real Amtrak trip, so a station like this one feels close to home. When Rally steps up to board, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand, and that small kindness is what my mom imagined most. Amtrak crews meet passengers on these New Orleans platforms every day. I hope some little travelers get that same welcome here.
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 Louisiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Louisiana
- Halloween train rides in Louisiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
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.
New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal: 20 traveler questions
Where is the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is at 1001 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113, in the central city. It is an intermodal hub, so you can arrive by Amtrak, intercity bus, city bus or the Rampart-Loyola streetcar, which stops right at the terminal. A city-owned parking lot serves the station.
When did the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal open?
The terminal opened on January 8, 1954, after construction that ran from 1947 to 1954 and cost $2.2 million. It brought together passenger rail service from five scattered depots and cut down on dangerous grade crossings throughout the central city. It has served travelers ever since.
What do the murals at Union Passenger Terminal show?
The murals are a long series of colorful frescoes that tell the history of Louisiana from the age of exploration through the mid-twentieth century. Scenes include colonizers, soldiers, Klansmen, scientists and sharecroppers. They are the station's best known feature and worth time on any visit, though some images show difficult history.
Is it free to see the murals at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The murals are in the public areas of a working train station, so there is no museum ticket to buy. Station hours vary, so check Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL before you go. Be respectful of travelers and staff while you look around.
Which Amtrak trains stop at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The terminal is served by three Amtrak long-distance routes: the City of New Orleans to Chicago, the Crescent to the Northeast, and the Sunset Limited to the West. The station is also listed for Amtrak's Mardi Gras Service. For schedules and fares, visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-872-7245.
What are the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal hours?
Station hours are set by Amtrak and can change, so check the New Orleans station page on Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL before you visit. If you only want to see the murals, plan to arrive while the station is open for passengers, ideally around a scheduled train.
Why was New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal built?
The terminal was built to consolidate passenger rail service from the city's five separate stations into one central facility, and to reduce the number of dangerous grade crossings where trains crossed streets in the central city. The railroads built and paid for it, and the city owned it.
How many trains used Union Passenger Terminal when it opened?
The terminal originally served 44 passenger trains and seven railroads. One partner, the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, ended its passenger service to New Orleans just before the station opened. Today the station serves Amtrak's long-distance routes along with buses and the streetcar.
Was New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal the first air-conditioned station?
When it opened in 1954, it was described as an ultra-modern facility and the nation's only air-conditioned train station. That made it a big step forward for passengers arriving in the heat and humidity of New Orleans.
How many people use New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
In fiscal year 2025, the station counted 188,132 Amtrak passengers. That figure covers rail riders only. The terminal also serves Greyhound, Megabus and New Orleans Regional Transit Authority buses, plus the Rampart-Loyola streetcar, so the building is busy with more travelers than the Amtrak number shows.
Can you take the streetcar to Union Passenger Terminal?
Yes. The Rampart-Loyola streetcar line connects directly to the terminal, and numerous RTA buses also stop there. That makes it easy to combine a station visit with a ride on New Orleans' historic streetcars. Check the RTA for current fares and schedules.
Who owns New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The City of New Orleans owns the terminal building, the platforms, the tracks and the parking lot. The New Orleans Building Corporation manages the terminal and oversees projects around it, while Amtrak operates the passenger trains that use the station.
Is there parking at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
Yes, there is a parking lot at the station, owned by the City of New Orleans. Rates and rules are not listed on the station page, so check signs on arrival or ask Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL. Arriving by streetcar or bus is another easy option.
Is New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal good for kids?
It can be, especially for kids who want to see real Amtrak trains. Time a visit around an arrival or departure, look at the big murals together, then ride the streetcar outside. Some mural scenes show violence and hard history, so parents may want to preview them first.
What style of architecture is New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The terminal is a Mid-Century Modernist building from the early 1950s. It is a stub-end terminal, meaning trains pull in to end tracks rather than passing through. It is often called the last major American passenger terminal of the classic railway era.
Which old depots did Union Passenger Terminal replace?
The terminal replaced five scattered passenger depots that had served different railroads around New Orleans. The station page does not list them by name. For detailed history, the New Orleans Public Library keeps a collection of Union Passenger Terminal records.
Can you take the train from New Orleans with kids?
Yes. Families leave from the Union Passenger Terminal on the City of New Orleans, the Crescent and the Sunset Limited, which are long-distance routes. Book through Amtrak.com or 1-800-USA-RAIL, and plan snacks, activities and sleeping arrangements for longer trips.
Where are Union Passenger Terminal records kept?
The New Orleans Public Library's city archives hold a collection of Union Passenger Terminal records, including material on the New Orleans Building Corporation's management of the terminal. Contact the library's archives to ask about access for research.
How long should I spend at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
About 30 minutes is enough to walk the public areas and look at the murals. Plan longer if you want to watch an Amtrak train arrive or depart, or if you are adding a ride on the Rampart-Loyola streetcar from the stop outside.
What train attractions are near New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal?
The New Orleans streetcars are about a mile away and connect right at the terminal. The Louisiana Steam Train Association has been based about 4 miles away, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge is about 75 miles, and the McComb Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 92 miles.
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