CHICAGO – On July 23, 1925, the railroads that built Chicago Union Station dedicated what is now the most intact of the Windy City’s downtown stations. On July 22, 2025, national and state officials gathered with local and Amtrak leaders to celebrate the 100-year milestone – and to look ahead to the years to come.
Speakers included Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Amtrak Executive Vice President, Strategy & Planning Jennifer Mitchell, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority Chair Kirk Dillard, Center for Railroad Photography & Art (CRP&A) President and Executive Director Scott Lothes, and Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) Tour Director Joan Johns.
From a balcony overlooking the station’s Great Hall, they highlighted the $70 million of renovation and other upgrades made to Union Station over the past few years, as well as additional significant station improvements that are planned via a federal, state and local partnership known as the Chicago Hub Improvement Program.
Chicago Union Station, which is owned by Amtrak, is the hub of the company’s Long Distance and Midwestern corridor services. In FY 2024, it was the railroad’s fourth busiest station across the country, with more than three million intercity rail passengers. Six of Metra’s 11 commuter rail routes also originate and terminate at Union Station.
“More than just a symbol of the power and the spirit of Chicago, Union Station is the center of the most important rail hub in America for Amtrak, freight and commercial rail,” said Pritzker in a news release. “In partnership with our friends at Amtrak and our Congressional delegation, our rail infrastructure, station facilities and service upgrades have been best in class, including the upgrades right here at Union Station. Today’s Centennial Celebration is a testament to what this place has meant to our nation and our people.”
As part of the festivities, Amtrak unveiled a large-scale art exhibition in the Great Hall curated by the CRP&A, which showcases images of the historic building over the decades. Attendees also enjoyed mini-tours of the building led by the CAC and refreshments in the Burlington Room.
Starting in late July, those interested in Union Station’s history may visit ChicagoUnionStation.com for reprints of historic coverage celebrating the station’s centennial milestone and more.
Posted July 23, 2025.
Amtrak established the Great American Stations Project in 2006 to educate communities on the benefits of redeveloping train stations, offer tools to community leaders to preserve their stations, and provide the appropriate Amtrak resources.
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