Northwestern Station
Northwestern Station
Northwestern Station is located on Madison and Canal Street in Chicago, Illinois, built in the early 20th century, when rail passenger and freight traffic was on the rise. Such growth made railroad companies look into ways and means of facilitating it all. One of the first companies to actually take action on it was Chicago and North Western Railroad, opening in 1911, and is now simply known as Northwestern Station. Although their dream was a lofty one, leading them to design the station to accommodate over 250,000 train passengers per day, and accommodate up to 500 trains per day, these number were never reached. But, today Northwestern Station is still up and running, accommodating daily commuters traveling in and out of Chicago.
Northwestern Station was one of the first urban terminals to be built in the United States. It set many standards in this type of design and structure. If you are a fan of Renaissance architectural style then this is a place to see. Having six gigantic granite columns, with a facade rising more than sixty feet about the street level. Sitting atop the towers that hold up the Madison Street portico, a huge clock face lets travelers know the hour, in order to keep them informed with their appropriate train. While down below electric street lamps illuminate the street.
By the 1930s some sixty plus passenger trains passed through Northwestern Station. With the majority of these trains heading to Evanston, Waukegan, and Kenosha, or northwest toward Jefferson Park, DesPlaines, Crystal Lake, and beyond.
When in Chicago visit the Northwestern Station, take a look back at how the train, and the station played an important transportation role in our country's history. As well as the old architecture of a building that so far has withstood the test of time and people.
