DATE

EVENT

SOURCE

June 13, 1909

The Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Chamber of Commerce "has begun the effort to unite the railways...in the project for the erection of a great Union passenger station."

DMN, 6-13-1909

March 10, 1915

Cornerstone of Dallas Union Station is laid.

DMN, 3-11-1915

May 25, 1916

A special passenger train carrying officials of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe RR becomes the first to arrive at Union Station.

DMN, 5-26-1916

July 29, 1916

The Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Chamber of Commerce has invited President Woodrow Wilson to the official opening of Union Station.

DMN, 7-29-1916

August 27, 1916

The Dallas Morning News publishes photos of new Union Station and older Dallas train stations.

DMN, 8-27-1916

September 29, 1916

The Dallas Morning News reports that the occupants of two Pullman cars on a Texas & Pacific passenger train were robbed while enroute to Dallas' Union Station.

DMN, 9-29-1916

October 8, 1916

Cotton Belt No. 101, Johnny Linehan, Engineer, becomes the first train "of any line" to officially arrive at Union Station, at 5:50 a.m., on its way from Memphis to Fort Worth.

DMN, 10-09-1916

October 14, 1916

Union Station is formally dedicated in ceremonies presided over by Dallas Morning News General Manager George B. Dealey and attended by Texas Governor James E. Ferguson. (Although President Woodrow Wilson was also invited, he apparently couldn't come.)

DMN, 10-15-1916

October 15, 1916

One article in The Dallas Morning News describes Dallas' Union Station "in detail" while another recalls the "history of campaign to get Union Depot."

DMN, 10-15-1916

January 14, 1917

The Dallas Morning News reports that a new ten-story hotel will be built across the street from Union Station.

DMN, 01-14-1917

April 20, 1917

The Dallas Morning News reports that a military recruiting office and information bureau "will be opened in Union Station within a few days."

DMN, 04-20-1917

June 15, 1917

When motion picture star Clara Kimball Young arrives at Union Station she is "greeted by a throng of moving picture enthusiasts." It is reported that Miss Young is "at present prospecting for a suitable location of a studio she expects to construct."

DMN, 06-16-1917

July 30, 1917

An infant, "which was being brought from Oklahoma to the Dallas Baby Camp," dies "in the hospital ward of the Dallas Union Railroad Station, when it was within two miles of the baby hospital where the parents felt sure the child would be cured."

DMN, 07-31-1917

August 3, 1917

Officers of the Russian Military Mission to the United States arrive at Union Station and are feted by city officials.

DMN, 08-04-1917

October 11, 1917

The new ten-story Jefferson Hotel, built opposite Union Station, is formally opened.

DMN, 10-10-1917

October 21, 1917

The Dallas Morning News reports that Union Station has recently "undergone its first real test in the handling of the vast crowds coming into Dallas to attend the 1917 Texas State Fair." The paper estimates that 45,000 people entered and left the depot in the latest 24-hour period, with 110 trains leaving and arriving.

DMN, 10-21-1917

December 22, 1917

The Dallas Morning News reports that "hundreds of soldiers on their way home from camp to spend the holidays with relatives...passed through Dallas yesterday." At Union Station, officials said that "hardly an incoming train" arrived that "did not carry a number of khaki-clad men." Interurban cars were likewise crowded with soldiers.

DMN, 12-22-1917

July 30, 1918

Following a huge parade through downtown Dallas, 500 African-American soldiers depart for camp from Union Station.

DMN, 07-31-1918

August 15, 1918

The Dallas Morning News announces that the United States Railroad Administration "has taken over the Dallas Union Terminal Station and will operate it hereafter."

DMN, 08-15-1918

September 6, 1918

The Dallas Morning News reports that "yesterday," more soldiers were served at the Red Cross canteen "than have been served any day since the canteen opened" on August 21.

DMN, 09-06-1918

June 16, 1919

The first of three troop trains carrying "men of the 345th Artillery and the 345th Machine Gun Battalion of the Ninetieth Division" arrives at Union Station at 10:30 p.m.

DMN, 06-17-1919

February 6, 1920

General John J. Pershing arrives at Union Station for a brief visit to Dallas.

DMN, 02-07-1920

October 18, 1920

A handcuffed prisoner, being escorted by the Hopkins County Sheriff, escapes "into the crowd at the Union Terminal." He was still at large on Wednesday.

DMN, 10-20-1920

February 19, 1922

At Union Station, scores of Dallasites greet motion picture actress Betty Blythe "upon her arrival here to open the automobile show."

DMN, 02-20-1922

December 3, 1922

Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans (a former Oak Cliff dentist) is met at Union Station by about fifty friends upon arrival aboard a train that came from Atlanta, Georgia

DMN, 12-04-1922

December 24, 1922

A two-week old baby boy is abandoned "in the restroom of the Union Terminal Station," along with "a few clothes and a bottle of milk."

DMN, 12-26-1922

February 13, 1927

The Dallas Morning News runs a feature article about the Information Desk at Union Station.

DMN, 02-13-1927

April 14, 1929

The Dallas Morning News runs a feature article about confused passengers at Union Station.

DMN, 04-14-1929

March 6, 1930

Former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife make a brief stop at Union Station while traveling on the KATY Special. The ex-President cannot be persuaded to make a speech.

DMN, 03-107-1930

July 20, 1932

Democratic Vice-Presidential Nominee John Nance Garner gives a speech at Union Station.

DMN, 07-18-1932

April 1, 1933

The Dallas Morning News reports an investigation into the apparent looting of the U.S. Mail at Union Station.

DMN,

January 19, 1935

Demolition of the old East Dallas Union Depot, previously used by the Texas & Pacific and Houston & Texas Central railroads, begins.

DMN, 01-20-1935

October 1, 1935

Article in The Dallas Morning News recalls "civic campaign for Union Terminal" that began in 1895.

DMN, 10-01-1935

January 05, 1936

25,00 SMU Mustangs fan jam Union Station to greet returning football team.

DMN,

June 12, 1936

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt arrive at Union Station (at 9:30 a.m.) en route to Texas Centennial Exposition at Fair Park.

DMN, 06-13-1936

October 1, 1936

"Streamlined train service between Dallas and Houston was inaugurated...when the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad's Sam Houston Zephyr pulled into Union Station on its first scheduled run from Houston."

DMN,10-02-1936

August 22, 1940

The Dallas Morning News reports that new Zephyr service to Denver is about to commence from Union Station.

DMN, 08-22-1940

November 19 & 25, 1940

Eighty-four North and Central Texas draftees depart from Union Station for training in San Antonio. A little less than a week later, eighty-one Dallas County draftees are given a "rousing send-off" from the station.

DMN, 11-20-1940 and 11-26-1940

December 3, 1940

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is feted by the Democratic Women's Luncheon Club and others at a small reception at Union Station during a brief stopover

DMN, 12-04-1940

September 5, 1941

The Navy Blues Sextet, a group of girls who appear in the Warner Brother movie "Navy Blues," are given a warm reception at Union Station.

DMN, 09-05-1941

October 14, 1941

Twenty-fifth anniversary of Union Station's dedication goes "almost unnoticed."

DMN, 10-13-1941

May 11, 1942

A "Hollywood Caravan" of twenty-three movie stars arrives at Union Station during a national tour to raise money for the Army Emergency Fund and the Navy Relief Fund. The roster of famous screen actors includes Claudette Colbert, Bob Hope, Oliver Hardy, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Olivia DeHavilland, Groucho Marx, Charles Boyer, Merle Oberon, James Cagney, Eleanor Powell, Joan Bennett, Joan Blondell, Bert Lahr, Jerry Colonna, Kenneth Thompson, and Rise Stevens.

DMN, 05-12-1942

May 29, 1942

Hollywood actress Dorothy Lamour arrives at Union Station during a tour to sell war bonds.

DMN, 05-29-1942

June 5, 1942

Mr. and Mrs. Masao Yamamoto and their two sons leave Union Station "to start the long journey back to Japan." The family is reportedly the "first Dallas Japanese to be returned to Japan under an agreement between the warring nations by which an equal number of American residents in the Land of the Riseing Sun will be returned to the United States."

DMN, 06-06-1942

August 13, 1942

"Crudely drawn swastikas and pictures of Hitler" are found drawn "on the walls and columns of the veranda on the second floor of the Union Terminal." The FBI is called in to investigate.

DMN, 08-14-1942

April 2, 1944

Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn is greeted by "Dallas kin" at Union Station.

DMN, 04-02-1944

September 9, 1944

Pauline McDermott Collins, the British bride of a Dallas airman is finally united with her husband and his family after first disembarking at Highland Park station and then taking a cab to Union Station where they are waiting.

DMN, 09-10-1944

July 10, 1945

The Dallas Morning News publishes an editorial complaining about Union Station's "high stairways."

DMN, 07-10-1945

July 13, 1945

The Dallas Morning News reports that banker R. L. Thornton is a supporter of the idea of putting escalators in Union Station.

DMN, 07-10-1945

September 27, 1948

During his presidential campaign tour, President Harry S. Truman departs from Union Station following the first non-segregated political rally ever held in Texas, at Rebel Field in Oak Cliff.

DMN, 09-28-1948

Mid-March 1949

The Dallas Morning News moves into its new building on Young Street, opposite Ferris Plaza and Union Station.

DMN, 3-2-1949, 3-20-1949, and 3-21-1949

September 25, 1952

The Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus trains arrive at Union Station and begin unloading "and the raising of the big top on the show grounds adjacent to the Union Station parking lot."

DMN, 09-26-1952

October 15, 1952

While on a campaign tour, former General and Republican presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower walks a half-mile to Union Station after his train breaks down in Trinity River bottoms. At the station, "Ike" gives a short speech before going on to Love Field, where he catches a plane to Shreveport, LA.

DMN, 10-16-1952

July 1, 1953

The Dallas Public Library begins 18-month lease on space at Union Station while old library is torn down and new one is built.

DMN, 09-26-1952

May 7, 1953

Movie stars Jackie Coogan and Russell Hayden arrive at Union Station "prior to appearing at 'The World's Greatest Baseball Party' in the Cotton Bowl Friday night."

DMN, 05-07-1953

June 7, 1953

The Dallas Morning News publishes feature article about Union Station "redcaps" and their experiences dealing with the traveling public.

DMN, 06-07-1953

August 18, 1954

Hollywood actor Tony Curtis arrives at Union Station. He is in Dallas to promote his movie "The Black Shield of Falworth."

DMN, 08-11 and 08-19-1954

December 5, 1955

The Santa Fe Railway inaugurates its new "Texas Chief" main line rail service to Chicago from Dallas' Union Station.

DMN, 12-06-1955

July 2, 1956

Teenage fans mob actress Kim Novak when she arrives at Union Station. She is in Dallas to promote new film, "The Eddy Duchin Story."

DMN, 07-03-1956

April 4, 1957

A month-old baby boy is abandoned by his mother "in the ladies restroom of the Union Terminal Station."

DMN, 04-05-1957

April 19, 1960

Rock 'n' Roll star Elvis Presley is greeted by fans at Union Station during a brief stop on a journey from Memphis, Tennessee to Hollywood, California, where he is to make a movie.

DMN, 04-20-1960

January 25, 1966

Unable to compete with the airlines, which have led passenger revenues to severaly decline, rail officials announce they are seeking to sell Union Station to the Post Office Department.

DMN, 01-26-1966

January 26, 1966

The Burlington Line's Sam Houston Zephyr service from Dalls to Houston makes its last trip from Union Station, leaving "only 14 daily arrivals and departures of passenger trains."

DMN, 01-26-1966

June 1, 1969

The Texas & Pacific Railways' "Texas Eagle No. 21" becomes last passenger train to depart Union Station.

DMN, 06-05-1969

August 28, 1970

It is announced that Freed's Furniture has started leasing Union Station as temporary warehouse.

DMN, 08-28-1970

March 20, 1973

It is announced the City of Dallas will purchase Union Station "for S5.35 million to develop as a multi-purpose transportation center."

DMN, 03-20-1973

March 14, 1974

First AMTRAK train arrives at Union Station (Dallas will be a stop on St. Louis to Laredo run); Mayor Wes Wise re-christens station "Dallas Transportion Center."

DMN, 03-15-1974

July 1, 1975

AMTRAK begins service from Dallas' Union Station to Chicago.

DMN, 06-25-1975

February 25, 1976

During U.S. Bicentennial, 26-car "Freedom Train" arrives at Union Station before going on to Fair Park for four day stay.

DMN, 02-23-1976

November 15, 1988

AMTRAK begins Dallas-Houston service from Union Station.

DMN, 11-16-1988

October 14, 1991

Celebrations are held to mark Union Station's 75th year.

DMN, 10-15-1991

September 10, 1995

AMTRAK ceases Dallas-Houston service from Union Station.

DMN, 09-10-1995

June 14, 1996

First DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) light rail trains begin using Union Station.

DMN, 06-15-1996

December 20, 1996

First TRE (Trinity Railway Express) train arrives at Union Station from Irving.

DMN, 12-31-1996

December 3, 2001

TRE (Trinity Railway Express) train service extended from Union Station to Fort Worth.

DMN, 12-04-2001