Union Station in Washington, Washington, D.C.

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Washington, Washington, D.C. · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Historic rail siteTrain ridesFreeOpen daily; closed to the public 11 pm to 5 am

Washington Union Station is one of the country's first great union railroad terminals, designed by Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907, and after a near collapse and a $160 million restoration it still sends trains out of the nation's capital every day.

  • Opened October 27, 1907
  • Designed by Daniel Burnham
  • Up to 42,000 riders a day in the 1940s
  • Restored and reopened in 1988
  • Amtrak, MARC, VRE and Metro trains
  • On the National Register since 1969

Union Station at a glance

Hours
Open daily; closed to the public 11 pm to 5 am (ticketed passengers only). Retail Mon to Sat 10 am to 9 pm, Sun 12 to 6 pm
Admission
Free to enter
Train rides
Amtrak, MARC, VRE and Metro trains depart from the station (regular fares)
Plan for
About 1 hour to walk the halls; longer with a meal
Best for
Families who want to see real trains and grand architecture
Best ages
All ages
Parking
Four-level parking garage; garage and permit questions to 202-898-1950

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to 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 Washington.

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.

Burnham's gateway, a near collapse and a comeback

The Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio railroads built Union Station together on swampy ground near the U.S. Capitol, and architect Daniel Burnham designed it. The first train in was a B&O passenger train from Pittsburgh, on October 27, 1907, and the building was finished in April 1908. By the early 1940s it was a crowded hub handling up to 42,000 passengers a day.

After 1945 the station declined quickly. Wartime traffic had worn it hard, repairs were done cheaply, and long-distance travelers moved to cars and planes. By the late 1950s the owners were looking for another use. The city named it a historic landmark in 1964, and it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, with Columbus Plaza out front added in 1980. A federal plan to turn it into a National Visitor Center opened in 1976 and failed soon after.

The low point came in 1981, when heavy rain sent pieces of the leak-damaged ceiling crashing into the main waiting room and most of the building had to close, right as Amtrak ridership was growing. That same year Congress passed the Union Station Redevelopment Act, calling for the station to be saved first as a working passenger terminal and second as a commercial complex that could help pay for its upkeep. In 1983 the Secretary of Transportation set up a public and private partnership that funded a $160 million restoration, and the station reopened in 1988 with three levels of shops.

Its care did not stop there. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August 2011 damaged the historic plaster ceilings in the Main Hall and Retail Concourse, and crews built a rolling scaffold so travelers could keep passing underneath while each of the Main Hall's five ceiling bays was repaired and repainted.

Walking the Main Hall and the platforms' front door

Union Station is a working terminal, so a visit is free and self-guided. Most people start in the Main Hall, looking up at the coffered plaster ceiling that was carefully repaired bay by bay after the 2011 earthquake. From there the Retail Concourse and three levels of shops and dining fill out the building, including a food court for a quick meal with kids.

Trains are the reason the place exists, and they still run: Amtrak, MARC commuter trains to Maryland and West Virginia, and Virginia Railway Express trains to Northern Virginia all serve the station, along with Metro. It is also Washington's main bus terminal and a common stop for tour buses. The station says more than 40 million people pass through each year. Out front, Columbus Plaza is part of the historic listing, and the U.S. Capitol is only a few blocks away.

Don’t miss

  1. The Main Hall ceilingThe coffered plaster ceiling of five bays was repaired and repainted after the 2011 earthquake, with a rolling scaffold that kept the hall open.
  2. Columbus PlazaThe plaza in front of the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, eleven years after the station itself.
  3. The Retail ConcoursePart of the 1988 restoration that brought the station back with three levels of shopping, and another space whose historic ceiling was damaged in the 2011 earthquake.
  4. The Amtrak, MARC and VRE trainsThis is a living station, so the trains on the departure boards are the real exhibit for young rail fans.
  5. The Union Station photo albumThe station's website tells its history in short vignettes, a good way to show kids what the building looked like in its early years.

Big trains, a big hall and a food court

For train-loving kids the draw is simple: real Amtrak, MARC, VRE and Metro trains coming and going, and departure boards full of places to imagine. The Main Hall is a huge indoor space to look up in, and the food court opens at 7 am every day, which helps with early starts. Photos are welcome anywhere inside; only professional gear such as a tripod needs a permit.

Keep in mind that this is a busy working terminal visited by tens of millions of people a year, so hold small hands near crowds and escalators. If you are riding a train out, our guide to Amtrak routes with kids has ideas for a first trip.

Plan your visit: tips for Union Station

  • The station closes to the public from 11 pm to 5 am; only ticketed passengers can enter then.
  • The food court opens at 7 am daily, earlier than the shops.
  • Photos are fine, but tripods and professional gear need a permit that can take 3 to 6 weeks.
  • Sit-down restaurants set their own hours, so check each one before you go.

Who looks after the station

Union Station grew out of a public and private partnership set up in 1983, and a property management team runs the building day to day, reachable at (202) 289-1908. Visitors support its upkeep simply by shopping and eating there, which is how the 1981 law intended the commercial space to help keep the historic station running.

Rail museums a short ride from Union Station

The Alexandria Union Station historic exhibits are about 7 miles away in Virginia. Across the Maryland line, the National Capital Trolley Museum and the Bowie Railroad Museum are each about 14 miles out. For more, see our guide to train museums in Washington, D.C.

Every train museum in Washington, D.C.

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 is still a real working station, with Amtrak trains leaving every day. That makes me think of the moment in our book when Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. Our train was the Pacific Surfliner out of San Diego, a long way from Washington, but the kindness of a conductor feels the same anywhere. If your little reader loves trains, here are our favorite train books for toddlers.

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 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.

Washington Union Station: 20 questions visitors ask

Where is Union Station in Washington, DC?

Washington Union Station is at 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002, just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building, facing Columbus Circle and Columbus Plaza. It is served by Metro, Amtrak, MARC and VRE trains and is the city's main bus terminal, so it is easy to reach without a car.

What are Union Station DC hours?

As of October 2026, Union Station is open seven days a week but closed to the public from 11 pm to 5 am, when only ticketed passengers may enter. Retail stores are open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm. Individual shops may vary.

What are the Union Station food court hours?

As of October 2026, the food court is open Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 7 am to 6 pm. Sit-down restaurants keep their own hours, so contact each restaurant directly. Not every vendor is open for the full posted window, so check individual listings.

Is Union Station open 24 hours?

Only for ticketed passengers. Union Station is closed to the general public every night from 11 pm to 5 am, and during that time it is accessible only to people holding tickets. Shops and the food court keep shorter daytime hours, so plan a sightseeing visit during the day.

Where do you park at Union Station DC?

Union Station has a four-level parking garage attached to the building. For garage parking and permit questions, call 202-898-1950. Because the station is served by Metro, Amtrak, MARC, VRE and many buses, arriving by transit is often simpler than driving into central Washington.

Does it cost anything to visit Union Station?

No, walking into Union Station to see the Main Hall and the shops is free. You only pay for train, Metro or bus fares if you ride, plus parking if you use the garage and whatever you spend at the shops and food court. Store hours vary, so check before you go.

Where do you buy Amtrak tickets at Union Station?

Amtrak serves Union Station at street level. For tickets and schedules, the station directs travelers to Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or amtrak.com, and Amtrak has an information desk in the station at 202-906-3193. MARC and VRE commuter tickets are handled by those railroads.

Can you take a train from Union Station DC to New York?

Union Station is served by Amtrak, which is the railroad to ask about trips to New York and other cities. Check amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for current routes, times and fares. MARC runs commuter trains into Maryland and West Virginia, and VRE serves Northern Virginia.

Which trains stop at Union Station in Washington?

Amtrak, MARC commuter trains serving Maryland, Washington and West Virginia, and Virginia Railway Express trains serving Northern Virginia all use Union Station, along with the Metro. It is also Washington's main bus terminal and a drop-off and pick-up point for many tour bus operators.

When was Union Station in Washington built?

Union Station opened on October 27, 1907, when a Baltimore & Ohio passenger train arrived from Pittsburgh, and the building was completed in April 1908. The Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio railroads built it together on swampy land near the U.S. Capitol, to a design by architect Daniel Burnham.

Who designed Union Station in Washington, DC?

Architect Daniel Burnham designed Washington Union Station, one of the country's first great union railroad terminals. It opened in 1907. The building was later landmarked by the city in 1964 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, with Columbus Plaza listed in 1980.

Why did the ceiling fall at Union Station?

In 1981 a driving rain sent pieces of the ceiling, already damaged by a leaky roof, crashing into the main waiting room. Most of the building had to close. That year Congress passed the Union Station Redevelopment Act, and a $160 million restoration followed, reopening the station in 1988.

Was Union Station damaged in the 2011 earthquake?

Yes. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August 2011 damaged the historic plaster ceilings in the Main Hall and Retail Concourse. A rolling scaffolding system let people keep walking through safely while the work went on above, and each of the Main Hall's five ceiling bays got plaster repairs and fresh paint.

Does Union Station DC have a Christmas tree or holiday events?

The station does not post a holiday event schedule on its visitor pages. It does list events and sales on its website, so check unionstationdc.com or its Facebook and Instagram accounts in November and December for anything planned for the season.

Is there a Christmas train at Union Station DC?

Union Station does not advertise a special Christmas train ride on its visitor pages. It is a working terminal for Amtrak, MARC and VRE, so any holiday rail trips would be run by those railroads. Check the station's events listings and the railroads' own sites closer to the holidays.

Can you take pictures inside Union Station?

Yes, anyone may take pictures inside Union Station. If you plan to use professional equipment such as a tripod, you need a permit: complete the station's authorization form and email it to management@unionstationdc.com. Approval can take 3 to 6 weeks, and requests may not be approved.

Can you host a wedding or event at Union Station DC?

Yes. Union Station rents spaces for private events, from corporate meetings and product launches to intimate weddings. For details, email events@unionstationevents.com. The station also handles advertising and sponsorships through a separate partner listed on its advertising page.

Is Union Station good for kids who love trains?

Yes, especially for watching real trains. Amtrak, MARC, VRE and Metro all serve the station, the Main Hall is a huge indoor space, and the food court opens at 7 am daily. It is busy, with tens of millions of visitors a year, so keep little ones close.

Is this the same as Union Station in Chicago, St. Louis or Kansas City?

No. Many cities have a Union Station, including Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Los Angeles and Toronto, and each is a different building with its own hours. This page covers Washington Union Station at 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE in Washington, DC, designed by Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907.

What train museums are near Union Station DC?

The Alexandria Union Station historic exhibits and the Virginia Railway Express historic collections are each about 7 miles away in Virginia. In Maryland, the National Capital Trolley Museum and the Bowie Railroad Museum are about 14 miles out, and the Manassas Railroad Depot Museum is about 27 miles away.

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