Albany Broadway Railroad Bridge Griffin Road Spring River Bridge Little Rock Rock Island Bridge Lower Trenton-morrisville Bridge New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal |
New Orleans Union Passenger TerminalDuring the great days of rail travel in the early 20th century, New Orleans was home to a number of lovely railroad stations, each serving separate rail companies. Most notably, at this location was a terminal for the Illinois Central Railroad which opened on June 1, 1892 and was the only train station designed by noted architect Louis H. Sullivan. Sullivan's head draftsman at the time was Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1953, this new station was built to consolidate the operations of the different passenger railroads under one roof. With the rise of air and auto travel and the decline of railroads, this fairly dreary piece of modernism faded to a shadow of its formerly optimistic self. In the 1970s the building became an intermodal facility when two platforms were shortened to create docks for Greyhound intercity busses. Perhaps the only truly interesting decorative feature of the facility are the fresco murals that depict the history of Louisiana in four panels representing the ages of exploration, colonization, conflict and the modern age. They were painted by Conrad Albrizio, a member of Louisiana State University's Art Department who also painted a large fresco in the new State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Albrizio was assisted by James Fisher in the creation of the murals. I last visited here in 2004 and I understand that it was spared major damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was even used as a temporary jail. For more information on the colorful history of rail transportation in New Orleans (including historic photos), visit the NOPL's Crescent City Choo Choo site.
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