Northampton’s Union Station was designed by the noted architect H. H. Richardson and built in 1896. It was the hub
of great excitement, expectation and adventure for many travelers and their families. The station was the scene of both happiness and tears, where Presidents and college students were welcomed and men and women were sent off to serve their country.

To local manufacturers and farmers, the station served as a vital distribution link. It was also the first stop for mail carried to all points of the globe. Union Station was, indeed, the lifeblood of Hampshire County.

In 1917, and again in 1928, fire swept through a portion of the baggage room and upper offices. Despite considerable damage, the great iron horses continued to run and ticket sales resumed only days after the fires.

As World War II approached, the railroad cars filled with service men and women, either departing with the fear they might never return or arriving with smiling faces thrilled to be home.

The two tunnels currently occupied by the Tunnel Bar were used to allow travelers to exit and enter both the station as well as the north and southbound tracks. The area behind the bar was once a stairwell, used to access the station platform for boarding the trains.

As you look around, note the tile and granite stone, both of which are original since construction. Try to appreciate the magnificent architecture and craftsmanship in this century-old building. Remember that all of the work you see was done by hand and with care.

Finally, in September of 1999, the grand old station came full circle and was renamed Union Station - Union Station Restaurant, Union Station Banquets & Catering and of course, the Tunnel Bar and Spaghetti Freddy’s Restaurant.

We ask that you relax and enjoy the elegance of the train station-both past and present. Listen carefully and you might hear the southbound to New York or the northbound to Canada.

125A Pleasant Street

Northampton, MA  01060

413-586-5366