The Flagpole Vol 3: The Latest Flag of Denver - Union Station
Union Station Neighborhood Flag - Flags of Denver
Union Station: A Flag for Denver's Crossroads
When I first moved to Denver in 2008, Union Station and the surrounding area was a shadow of its former glory. The grand old building stood there, weathered and desolate, reduced to a nearly vacant office building, with its iconic "Travel by Train" sign legitimately flickering like a forgotten beacon with vast stretches of barren land extending to the Central Platte Valley—empty but brimming with untapped potential.
What I didn’t fully grasp at the time was just how much history the building carried. The original Union Station opened in 1881, built to bring together several smaller depots into one central hub for a growing frontier city. It burned down in 1894 (fun fact: the fire started in the women’s restroom), and was rebuilt, eventually getting its now-iconic Beaux-Arts makeover in 1914—complete with the arched windows, great hall, and that grand façade.
The original Union Station built 1881 .
For much of the early 20th century, Union Station was the gateway to Denver. It was where people arrived, where soldiers departed, where telegrams were sent and families reunited. In 1952, the glowing orange “Travel by Train” sign was added, a bold piece of typography that became an icon all its own.
But like so many American train stations, Union Station fell into decline as rail travel lost popularity to air travel and the personal automobile. By the time I got here, it was a mostly empty office building with one daily train, its glory days a distant memory.
Then came the vision: a massive investment by the City and RTD through the FasTracks plan. It took years of planning and design, but what rose from that process is one of the most impressive urban transformations I’ve ever seen. Today, Union Station is the multimodal hub of Denver—connecting Amtrak, RTD light and commuter rail, regional buses, bikes, pedestrians... and surrounded by a neighborhood full of life. It’s a new gateway and heart for the city, but one that still beats with its original rhythm.
Union Station Neighborhood 2008 vs 2021
This profound metamorphosis inspired me to create the Union Station Neighborhood Flag.
The design centers on those beautiful arched windows, pulled right from the Beaux Arts 1914 façade. The color palette is taken from the warm orange of the “Travel by Train” sign. I wanted the flag to capture the sense of movement, memory, and momentum that Union Station represents.
Denver’s Union Station today
I’ve produced a limited run of 10 flags , ready to fly, available now in the Narrative Designs shop. A small tribute to a big transformation.
Curious about the other flags of Denver?
Explore all the Flags of Denver and learn the stories behind each design → View the collection
Thanks for following along and flying flags that tell stories. More soon.
– Steve