Ornate railway stations may seem like a marvel of the Gilded Age. But many of these buildings are earning second chances as old railway stations across the United States continue to be repurposed. Some have even become tourist attractions in their own right.
A $54 million renovation of Denver's Union Station was completed in 2014, transforming it "from a neglected relic to a must-visit gem" with shops, restaurants and a luxury hotel, said Condé Nast Traveler. It also remains an active train depot, which "more than 10,000 people pass through" daily.
Detroit's Michigan Central Station, "once a sign of the city's stagnation," is "now a symbol of its revival," said Bloomberg. The building hasn't been used for trains since 1988, but a $1 billion investment from Ford means it now has "workspaces for startups and other companies," plus a "variety of public outdoor spaces," including a park and walking trail.
The large footprints of train stations makes them prime real estate. Cities are helping these historic structures "regain their cultural cachet while offering travelers an intriguing glimpse into the past," said the BBC. Many "towns and cities were built up around their train stations," said Glenn NP Nowak, an architecture professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Most stations have "generously arched entryways or tall columns that strategically frame what are now historic downtowns or other attractions," the BBC said. And the buildings were built to "withstand the wear and tear of a steady flow of passengers," making them perfect contenders for refurbishment. | 
