ALLEGORY OF THE RAILROADS

I’ll continue with images from our trip to Chicago until something else comes along. In its day, St. Louis Union Station was the busiest in the country. With the advent of air travel and the Interstate highways, rail travel went into great decline. Union Station became decrepit and empty. More recently, it has been gloriously transformed into a fine hotel and something of a small amusement park. This window is an allegory of the American railroads, with San Francisco on the left, St. Louis in the center and New York on the right.                      

AT THE LIBRARY - EVEN THE STAIRWAYS ARE ELEGANT

Still at the central branch of the St. Louis Public Library. Two main stairways face each other across the center entrance hall. They are less ornate than some of the rooms but give me the sense that you are ascending into something important. I wish I had better pictures of the stained glass windows on the landings. This one is a allegory of the arts of poetry and music.

Off to Kansas City again this afternoon. We hope we dodge the storms that are again rolling through the area. Tomorrow further into the Kansas prairie for a gathering of Mrs. C's family.            

Allegory

We move inside Union Station. It was the world's largest and busiest passenger rail station when it opened in 1894. (Not any more! Ever been to Sinjuku in Tokyo?) This stained glass window is over the main street entrance. It is an allegory of the American railways with San Francisco on the laft, New York on the right and St. Louis in the middle. 

The Great Hall has been transformed in a recent renovation (not that it was bad before). More about that tomorrow.

I got some time to walk around downtown Indy at lunchtime today and I was impressed. Modern, attractive and with many facilities. It's the center of Indiana state government and that seems to provide a steady economic anchor.                                 

Union Station: The Allegory Window

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Back to the great hall of Union Station and one of its most beautiful features, the stained glass window displaying an allegory of the American railroads. On the left is San Francisco, in the center St. Louis and on the right New York, the major rail terminals of the day. It's nice to think that there was a time when our city could claim this position without pretense. I think we were once the fourth largest city in the country, after New York, Philadelphia and, I forget, Boston or Chicago. No more (although note that these figures are for the city proper, not metropolitan area. We do quite a lot better by that measure.)

If you believe in magic, stop by Downtown St. Louis 365 today.