Chicago Union Station

More than a century before airlines placed it at the center of their systems, Chicago was already the nation's transportation hub –from Union Station, passengers could reach major cities on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts as well as countless points in between.

Chicago's history is tightly linked to its railroads. Railroad historian Fred Ash begins in the mid 1800's, when Chicago dominated Midwest trade and was referred to as the "Railroad Capital of the World." During this period, s...