Union Station and Burlington Freight House
Encyclopedia
Union Station and Burlington Freight House is located near the riverfront in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The buildings are in a section of downtown with several historic structures. Across Ripley Street to the west is the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House
, and to the east across Harrison Street is the Dillon Memorial
. On River Drive northwest from the Burlington Freight House is the The Linograph Company Building
. Across Beiderbecke Drive to the south are the W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
and the Mississippi River
.
had never been crossed by a bridge anywhere. That was accomplished in 1856 when the first bridge was built between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois
, and the city’s rail history began. By 1895 several rail lines already passed through Davenport when Frank Blair organized the Davenport, Rock Island and Northwest Railroad. In five years the company completed its route to Clinton, Iowa
and the Crescent Bridge
(1899) across the Mississippi between Davenport and Rock Island. The bridge is downstream from the site of the first bridge that crossed the river.
In 1901, the DRI & NW was purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
. The former railroad already operated in Davenport while the latter did not. In 1924 the DRI & NW and its parent companies built Union Station on the levee grounds. After World War II
passenger service started to fade until it was discontinued in the 1950s.
The building eventually became a Trailways bus station. The main floor of the station has served as a visitor’s center since the 1990s. The upper floors and the freight house are office space. A $450,000 renovation of the facility was completed in 2009.
The station is a two-story, Classical Revival, tan brick building. It is built on a concrete foundation. The building features a stylized Greek temple front on the north and south elevations, which emphasizes the building’s entrances. The temple features four columns that are attached to the building with tapered, square shafts and stylized capitals. The columns support a Classical entablature
that includes dentils, round medallions, and stepped fascia
. A heavy cornice
crowns the perimeter of the building. The building features rectangular windows on both floors, but the first floor windows are framed with arches. Keystones made of concrete highlight the windows. Deep awning
s are above the primary entrances.
The Burlington Freight House is a single-story building that is constructed with the same materials as Union Station. As mentioned above the building featured docks, with oversized doors on both the north and the south sides of the building. The south dock, however, has been removed to accommodate an access ramp. The architectural style is the same as that of the station. The decorative details on the freight house are limited to a horizontal band of concrete and concrete window sills.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The buildings are in a section of downtown with several historic structures. Across Ripley Street to the west is the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House was built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1917 in Davenport, Iowa. The building is rectangular in shape and built of brick. The eastern end is two stories and held the offices...
, and to the east across Harrison Street is the Dillon Memorial
Dillon Memorial
The Dillon Memorial is located in LeClaire Park, near downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993...
. On River Drive northwest from the Burlington Freight House is the The Linograph Company Building
The Linograph Company Building
The Linograph Company Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
. Across Beiderbecke Drive to the south are the W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion
W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion is located on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993...
and the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
History
Rail service through Davenport was being discussed and planned starting in 1842. Up to this point, however, the Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
had never been crossed by a bridge anywhere. That was accomplished in 1856 when the first bridge was built between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, and the city’s rail history began. By 1895 several rail lines already passed through Davenport when Frank Blair organized the Davenport, Rock Island and Northwest Railroad. In five years the company completed its route to Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
and the Crescent Bridge
Crescent Rail Bridge
The Crescent Rail Bridge carries a rail line across the Mississippi River between Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. It was formerly owned by the Davenport, Rock Island and North Western Railway, a joint subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and Chicago, Milwaukee, St...
(1899) across the Mississippi between Davenport and Rock Island. The bridge is downstream from the site of the first bridge that crossed the river.
In 1901, the DRI & NW was purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
. The former railroad already operated in Davenport while the latter did not. In 1924 the DRI & NW and its parent companies built Union Station on the levee grounds. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
passenger service started to fade until it was discontinued in the 1950s.
The building eventually became a Trailways bus station. The main floor of the station has served as a visitor’s center since the 1990s. The upper floors and the freight house are office space. A $450,000 renovation of the facility was completed in 2009.
Architecture
Union Station and the Burlington Freight House are two separate buildings that are joined by a wood post and beam shelter. The station has twin facades. The rail side faces south and the north side faces a parking lot on River Drive. Similarly, the freight house was built with docks on the north and south sides of the building in order to facilitate the transfer of cargo.The station is a two-story, Classical Revival, tan brick building. It is built on a concrete foundation. The building features a stylized Greek temple front on the north and south elevations, which emphasizes the building’s entrances. The temple features four columns that are attached to the building with tapered, square shafts and stylized capitals. The columns support a Classical entablature
Entablature
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and are commonly divided into the architrave , the frieze ,...
that includes dentils, round medallions, and stepped fascia
Fascia (architecture)
Fascia is a term used in architecture to refer to a frieze or band running horizontally and situated vertically under the roof edge or which forms the outer surface of a cornice and is visible to an outside observer...
. A heavy cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
crowns the perimeter of the building. The building features rectangular windows on both floors, but the first floor windows are framed with arches. Keystones made of concrete highlight the windows. Deep awning
Awning
An awning or overhang is a secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building. It is typically composed of canvas woven of acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tightly over a light structure of aluminium, iron or steel, possibly...
s are above the primary entrances.
The Burlington Freight House is a single-story building that is constructed with the same materials as Union Station. As mentioned above the building featured docks, with oversized doors on both the north and the south sides of the building. The south dock, however, has been removed to accommodate an access ramp. The architectural style is the same as that of the station. The decorative details on the freight house are limited to a horizontal band of concrete and concrete window sills.