To Station -- Burlington Train Station in Omaha, Nebraska
by Darin Volpe
Title
To Station -- Burlington Train Station in Omaha, Nebraska
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph
Description
Amtrak trains still stop in Omaha, but the old Burlington Station had fallen into complete disrepair and only the concrete platform was still used when I passed through in 2007. The story doesn't end there, though. A few years after this photo was taken a $22M renovation transformed it into the new studio for a local television station.
Burlington Station was opened in 1898 by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. When it opened, it was praised around the world for its architectural beauty. It's interior featured marble columns and mosaic floors. The grand staircase was accented with bronze castings of Rocky Mountain Sheep heads. The walls were Indiana limestone and gray brick. The exterior featured massive granite columns reminiscent of a Grecian temple.
In 1928, a major remodel was started. It was completed in September of 1930. The granite columns were removed along with much of the exterior detail and the building was changed to more of a Neo-Classical Revival style. The interior was also completely redesigned, including the removal of the central staircase.
It was once again remodeled in 1954, but by the late 1960s railroad travel was on the decline and several parts of the station fell into disrepair. It was turned over to Amtrak at it's founding in 1971, who operated the station until it's abandonment in 1974.
While there had been several attempts at reopening the station for other uses such as business offices or condominiums, none came to fruition until it was purchased in 2013 and reopened after a $22 million restoration as the studio for KETV in 2015.
Uploaded
November 6th, 2013
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