Untitled Document
Chicago Union Station
by Fred Ash.
Clothbound, 11x10", 320 pages, 80 b/w and 29 color images, map. 2018.
"More than a century before the age of airlines, the windy city of Chicago was already the nation's transportation hub. Tightly linked to its railroads, Chicago Union Station provided a way for passengers to reach cities from the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts.
"In this stunning book, railroad historian Fred Ash tells the the story of Chicago Union Station from its beginning in the mid-1800s, when Chicago dominated Midwest trade and was referred to as the 'Railroad Capital of the World.' From the swing in the political climate that significantly modified the relationship between the local government and its largest landholders, to the competition between railroad companies at the turn of the 20th century, the station continued to be a center for prosperity.
"Profiling the fascinating stories of the businessmen, politcians, workers, and immigrants everyday lives were affected by the bustling transporation hub, Ash documents the impact Union Station had on the growing city and the entire Midwest. Featuring more than 100 photographs of the famous beaux art architecture, Chicago Union Station is a beautifully illustrated tribute to one of America’s overlooked treasures."
"Fred Ash's interest in railroads, especially passenger trains, was piqued as a teenager and nurtured after moving to Chicago. After thirty years specializing in nonprofit and government finance, he retired to complete this history that has lain in wait for over twenty years."
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Continental Divide
1. Humble Beginnings
2. Coming Together
3. A Depot Worthy of Chicago
4. A Most Public Service
5. Colossus of the Roads
6. City within a City
7. Red Ink in the White City
8. Remodeling the Depot, Remaking the City
Bibliography
Appendix A: Chicago’s Railroad Terminals
Appendix B: Naming Conventions
