A historical photo of Union Station in Denver, Colorado.

Our History

A Celebrated Denver Landmark

Crafted by Denver’s finest planners, draftsmen, and builders, Union Station sits at the intersection of our city’s past, present, and future. Immerse yourself in iconic hospitality at our celebrated landmark hotel, in the historic blocks where Denver began.

Union Depot

Gateway to the West

1800s

When it first opened its doors in 1881, Union Depot was the tallest building in the West. Complete with electric lights and a 180-foot clock tower, the station consolidated Denver’s numerous railroad depots into one convenient, central location, simplifying travel to and from the Mile High City.

After an electrical fire consumed the Depot’s central hall and clock tower in 1894, a larger replacement structure was quickly built, integrating the surviving Romanesque-style wings of the original Union Depot which still stand to this day.

Union Depot

Gateway to the West

A historical photo of Denver, Colorado. There are multiple horse and buggies.

Beaux-Arts Revival

A Grand Vision

1900s

By the turn of the century, the Transcontinental Railway had forever changed the face of the West. Colorado’s rail network was rapidly expanding to keep pace with the demand for train travel, growing from 328 miles of track in 1870 to half-a-million miles by 1900. Not surprisingly, our booming city soon found that it had outgrown the original Union Depot, and work began in earnest on a larger replacement.

Made from carved granite in the popular Beaux-Arts architectural style, the newly renamed Denver Union Station opened to the public in 1914, ushering in the city’s golden age of rail travel. Over the next century, it would play host to notable dignitaries from Presidents to European Royalty.

Beaux-Arts Revival

A Grand Vision

A historical picture from the 1900s of the Union Station in Denver, Colorado.

Revitalization

LoDo, Reborn

2000s

With the advent of the Interstate highway system, the popularity of rail travel gradually fell by the wayside, and by the close of the 20th century Denver Union Station had fallen into disrepair. In 2001, the Union Station Alliance — led by Dana Crawford, the pioneering preservationist who oversaw the revitalization of the Oxford Hotel and Larimer Square — began efforts to reimagine the iconic landmark for a new age.

The Station officially reopened to the public in 2014, one hundred years after the building’s original opening. This crown jewel of downtown Denver is home to world-class dining, shopping, and cultural events, along with the award-winning Crawford Hotel.

Revitalization

LoDo, Reborn

A man sitting with luggage at a booth in the Crawford Hotel lobby.

Urban Hub

Our Journey Continues

Today

Inspired by the journey of the past decade, in 2024 Denver Union Station underwent an extensive refresh to reflect its place as a thriving transit hub and cultural destination. This renovation included a refresh of the Great Hall, Cooper Lounge, private event venues, along with a new lobby space and private elevator access for the 112-room Crawford Hotel. Unveiled in Summer 2024, this latest revitalization marks the beginning of yet another exciting chapter in the Station’s storied history.

Urban Hub

Our Journey Continues

Crawford Hotel Amenities

Curate Your Perfect Stay

  • 24-Hour Business Center
    24-Hour Business Center
  • Courtesy Transportation Within Two Miles of the Hotel
    Courtesy Transportation Within Two Miles of the Hotel
  • Valet Parking
    Valet Parking
  • Pet-Friendly
    Pet-Friendly
  • Access to The Oxford Club Gym & Fitness Classes
    Access to The Oxford Club Gym & Fitness Classes
  • Priority Seating at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
    Priority Seating at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
  • High-Speed Wifi
    High-Speed Wifi
  • Exclusive Guest Perks at Denver Union Station
    Exclusive Guest Perks at Denver Union Station