Railroads have used this Indianapolis address since the world's first union station was created here in 1848. This spot has been a railroad address since the city created the world's first union station in 1848. The original station building opened on September 20, 1853, at 39 Jackson Place and was operated by the Indianapolis Union Railway.
A larger Richardsonian Romanesque station, designed by Pittsburgh architect Thomas Rodd, was built here beginning in November 1886 and opened in September 1888. The head house - the main waiting area and office - and the clock tower of that 1888 station still stand today. Today Amtrak continues to serve Union Station.
The Cardinal line, running between Chicago and New York City via Cincinnati and Washington, DC, calls here, passing through Indianapolis three times a week each way, and passengers use a waiting area beneath the train shed. Union Station was also the eastern terminus of the Hoosier State until its discontinuation on June 30, 2019. You can see the clear influence of Henry Hobson Richardson in Rodd's design.
Notice that the Cardinal line still calls here three times a week, running between Chicago and New York City via Cincinnati and Washington, DC.