![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OO2kh9CaI/AAAAAAAABMo/JuCic-scwBc/s320/crDSC_0049.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OO_eAb6jI/AAAAAAAABMw/gQ79ZbXPmJ4/s320/crDSC_0072.jpg)
We arrived at the famous Arch just before sundown, the perfect time for pictures! I barely noticed the wind and 15 below wind chill...but Lanai sure did LOL. Wimpy Texans. :-) I suppose I will never live down the fact that I was lying in the snow to get some of the pics...as Lanai huddled with her back against the wind. All joking aside, I'm so glad that Lanai humored me as I love the resulting images!
Fast forward through the business part of my trip, and on my last night I drove back to Union Station (Lanai had gone back early). Some of you are familiar with my exciting exploration of the abandoned Michigan Central Station last spring - if you have not seen it already, be sure to check out the MCS blog post HERE.
Fast forward through the business part of my trip, and on my last night I drove back to Union Station (Lanai had gone back early). Some of you are familiar with my exciting exploration of the abandoned Michigan Central Station last spring - if you have not seen it already, be sure to check out the MCS blog post HERE.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OPkJRQ_DI/AAAAAAAABM4/qxQpuJPskoM/s200/crDSC_0112.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OQSAEJvmI/AAAAAAAABNA/CKU-3UXKEGU/s200/crDSC_0110.jpg)
The outside of St. Louis Union Station looks like a castle, with a 280 foot clock tower. (in comparison to the 18 storey/230 foot Mich
igan Central Station). Walking in, I saw all that Michigan Central Station should be. Having experienced both buildings, the contrast was striking - in St. Louis a precious bit of history restored and saved, in Detroit our history forgotten and left in ruin. I wandered and explored St. Louis Union Station, trying to capture similar images of the restored station that I had previously taken of MCS. The great room is a grand expanse of beautifully detailed arches and stained glass w
indows, the tile and romanesque decor exactly what I would imagine it was in 1894. Arched doorways and columned balconies, intricate carving on the walls and columns, period statues - everywhere I looked there was more to see. In the shopping center portion of the building, Trompe-l'œil adorned the walls in sharp contrast to the graffitti seen at MCS. The photos I am posting here do not do the beauty of this building justice. Be sure to check out the pics at the bottom of this blog post - there are some comparisons to photos taken in MCS.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OQhVb1zxI/AAAAAAAABNI/tOBvjLlSUio/s200/crDSC_0039.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1ORQODQ-XI/AAAAAAAABNQ/-TjJdAgTpBk/s200/crDSC_0037.jpg)
I was fortunate to be able to stay overnight in this exceptionally striking and historic building, and greatly enjoyed the hospitality of all of the folks that work there - everyone excited to talk about the beautiful structure and the history behind it, as well as the current struggles to keep this saved bit of history open and operating. I am hoping that with the upturn in the economy, St. Louis Union station will continue to operate, grow and prosper.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1ORs3aXYzI/AAAAAAAABNY/_lBfnEKd3i8/s320/crDSC_0134c.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KBOSVBrGGMs/S1OWYI4IDTI/AAAAAAAABNw/M9Qzvav6oQo/s200/crDSC_0195.jpg)
A comparison of the two stations:
The exterior - St. Louis Union Station on top, MCS belowGraffitti vs Trompe-l'œil
Interior Halls