Essay
Union Station - A Symbol for Equality
Washington D.C. is a city full of history, culture and a symbol of our nation. You have monuments that represent those that our country holds of great influence and, like Jefferson, Lincoln and Martin Luther King. You have the Capitol, which represents the great massive participation political system that our nation has held so close. You have the White House, which has been a symbol of authority and where international authority meet to talk about international issues. The Smithsonians, the government buildings, the theaters and so many other buildings in D.C. hold such great importance in telling the history of not only the District, but also the United States of America. Union Station is no exception to this history, yet unlike a lot of the other buildings in the area Union Station seems to have many competing elements for its sole identity. There are many views on the large significance of Union Station since its opening in 1907, but I am going to look specifically at two: the city development and what they were hoping for in such a grand station and the results achieved, and the view of Swampoodle that was heavily destroyed because of Union Station. Prior to Union Station D.C. has two train depots, but both of these had tracks that ran through the middle of the city even having tracks that went across the Mall. These stations were considered “inadequate and discreditable” by many, and the proposition of a new station that would consolidate all the railway companies into one terminal was an attractive idea.[1] There were two very important players in the push to build Union Station, Senator James McMillan and the architect Danial H. Burnham. Senator McMilan proposed a new plan for the city, the McMilan Plan. It was a plan that was very complex for its time and would be the foundation for urban planning in the future. [1]This plan was presented under improving upon the plans that L’Enfant had once started, but was really driven by the consolidation of railway stations, and removing the one station from the mall and ‘restoring’ the Mall to all its glory. Burnham was the architect that pushed for the location of this new proposed station. These men faced lots of obstacles in their massive reconstruction of the city of Washington D.C., but ultimately the bills were passed and construction started on what would be Union Station. In 1907, the opening was nothing but grand. The largest train depot in the United States if not the world. The nation’s capitol had clearly claimed this as a symbol of power. It was a station meant to last, but over time it started to gain other titles. William M. Wright explains this so well in “White City to White Elephant”, which was published in Washington History.
"Union Station also gained importance place in the community. It provided the stage for such memorable events as General Pershing's return from Europe after World War I and the 1939 welcome of the King and Queen of England. The routing of the streetcar system made its plaza a key transfer point; its rudimentary air-conditioning and the fountains outside made it a popular destination for those suffering through steamy Washington summers. And in an increasingly segregated city, the station was one of the few public spaces where African Americans and whites came together. With only one set of facilities, everyone shared the same waiting room, even though most would board segregated trains; for years, the east end restaurant was the best of the few places in the city where blacks and whites could eat together in public."[2]
As Wright shows, the Station became a place of every day social interaction and equality, as well as the stage for big events. The station went far beyond just being a power symbol or clearing up the inadequate depot off the mall, it became a part of the local Washingtonian’s life. Consequences of Building At this point McMilan, was probably pretty proud of himself, but like most events there are two sides to an event. Swampoodle, a district just north of the Capitol building, was home to a low-income working class Irish immigrant community. Made up of mostly immigrants fleeing from the potato famine, they found residence in this district that was on the swampland of the Tiber River. Because of the type of area Swampoodle was and it’s proximity to the Mall, it was this area that was chosen to house Union Station. The construction of Union Station cut this district in half, the building itself put 1700 people out on the streets.[3] Although the area tried to take advantage of the prime business opportunity that was presented to them; they ultimately were broken so badly that they never could repair themselves. Today there are only small remnants that a unique district known as Swampoodle even existed in Washington D.C. What used to be such a rich culture has disappeared and the majority of that information is lost After World War II, Union Station, expect to last for a lifetime, had lost some of its original glory. As time went on rain caused severe damage claiming the station dangerous to use. It was closed, but hoping it could be restored bills was passed to start a giant renovation project. Today Union Station is back and bigger than ever. It reflects the same qualities and values that existed in the Station’s original days. It is a social avenue that has been incorporated into lives of locals across the district. Although sad that it caused the depletion of a concentrated sub-culture of D.C., it has created a new sub-culture, and it is one that represents equality, diversity and fellowship.
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