People arriving in Saint Paul between 1900 and 1940 generally came by train through the Union Depot. In its heyday, this neoclassical structure served 282 trains and 20,000 passengers daily. The depot is significant both as a point of entry for African Americans and as an opportunity for job-seekers. Although most black workers were confined to menial roles, the industry did provide educated African Americans with a more respected occupation as Pullman porters. Regardless of job status, black station employees were important ambassadors. They were often the first friendly face for a new arrival, and their networks of information about where to find shelter and a good meal were invaluable.
]]>(Depot Place)
- 214 East Fourth Street (between Sibley and Wacouta) -
- 1917-23, Charles S. Frost -
Riverboat traffic gave Saint Paul its start, but with the railroads, the city grew into a major freight transfer center. By the early 1880s, more than a dozen rail companies operated out of separate stations in the city. This spacious building replaced the first Union Depot, lost to fire in 1913. A promising future seemed assured by the bustle of travelers. Freight workers handled thousands of cans of milk and 750 tons of mail each day. But the Panama Canal, opened in 1914, diverted the transcontinental freight traffic that formed the backbone of the railroad industry. The "Good Roads Movement" of the 1920s improved automobile travel. The echo of the stationmaster's voice fell silent in 1971, but adaptive use restored the cavernous space with its grand skylit atrium for the enjoyment of restaurant patrons.
]]>