Memories of Union Station
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Jane Almquist: “So big, intimidating, and full of people”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Jane Almquist One of my mother’s favorite stories was of traveling on the train from Arkansas to California in 1942.
She’d never been out of Arkansas, never been on a long train trip. My two sisters, who were about six and three at the time, were with her.
The train was crammed with soldiers; they had to stand up until finally one GI gave up his seat for her, so she held her three year old and her six year old stood beside her all the way to Kansas City, when they had to get off to change trains.
She’d never seen anything as big or as intimidating or as full of people as Union Station!
Some kind railway worker helped her find the correct platform to continue on her journey. She and my sisters finally made it to California to reunite with my dad, who was working in a war material factory in Ventura.
What an adventure!
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Clara Lloyd: “An Important Landmark in Our Lives”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Clara Lloyd Many memories of that station.
I took the train from KC to Fort Worth, Tx and TCU for four years, and to the University of Wisconsin for one year.
We met my husband to be coming in from Chicago by train just before our wedding.
Later Bill’s office was in Crown Center, so he saw the station every day.
An important landmark in our lives. Thanks for sharing.
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Karen Johnson: “Shaving the VP”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Karen Johnson Union Station has a special place for me and my family because my mom’s dad, my grandfather Harold Markham owned the barbershop.
I remember being down there with him as a young child.
I have some of his barber tools, supplies. I also have an article from the Kansas City Star about him shaving Vice-President John Nance Garner.
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Jamie Christly: “Coming Home”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Jamie Christly My father came home from the South Pacific on Christmas Eve, 1945.
He said that he knew he was really home when he finally got to the Union Station.
I can’t imagine what that must have felt like, to have fought for three years across the islands he did, and come home at the time he did.
The Union Station really does hold a special place in our family’s hearts.
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
“Special Place in Our Hearts”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
ReTouch Design Build Renovate My Great Grandma was abandoned at Union Station when she was a baby.
Her mother couldn’t provide for her; the woman who found her ended up adopting her and she ended having 7 or 8 kids in rural Missouri.
God has blessed her descendants greatly over the years and even though we weren’t there to have the memories our history is closely tied to Union Station Kansas City Inc. and it holds a special place in our hearts.
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Norma Carey: “Two Young Girls’ Adventures”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Norma Carey: In the early 1960’s my sister and I would ride the train from Appleton, Wisconsin to a little bitty dot on the map called Neal Springs near Horatio, Arkansas to spend summers with our grandmother. We took the Kansas City Southern and had a stopover in Kansas City.
We had a great adventure exploring the huge station!
Train travel was so fabulous to two young girls! We had a berth in the sleeping car, ate in the diner, and most exciting of all was going from car to car in that big, loud open space! Great memories! Magnificent station!!
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Brooke McNally: “Waiting in the Orange Chairs”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
30 years ago we used to pick my Grandma up when her train arrived from St. Louis for a visit.
I thought it was so much fun to wait in the orange chairs in the Great Hall.
Great memories.
This year we bought a family membership when we came to the Tut exhibit (which was FANTASTIC!). We only have to come 3 times during the year to save money, and we already have! We all really enjoy our time playing and learning there. Looking forward to many more visits during the year! We LOVED the video and fireworks Friday night. You really outdid yourselves!
Union Station Kansas City likes this.
Dianna M. Villigan: “Thank you for being so amazing!”
Union Station Kansas City
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
My dad would always tell my sister and I about Union Station. We grew up in North Carolina. His eyes would light up and of course, he’s had a lifelong love of trains.
When my family moved to Kansas City six years ago, we were so excited to be able to see what my dad was always talking about.
Every time he comes to visit, we end up here. We’ve seen so many changes in the past six years, but our feelings about Union Station always remain the same.
Our oldest son volunteers in the train room, and he’s also worked at a couple of the exhibitions. He has Cerebral Palsy and feels so welcomed, wanted and needed when he’s volunteering.
We spend hours at Union Station — Parisi Coffee always in hand — and we love it every time we’re there. Thank you for being so amazing 50, 60 years ago for my dad and today for myself and my children. Happy 100!!!!
Union Station Kansas City likes this.