Who Built Union Station in New York During the Gilded Age?

Union Station is the center of controversy and business for George Russell in The Gilded Age. But who built the New York train station in reality? One of the many joys of HBO's The Gilded Age is the opportunity to learn more about a little-known period of history. Through all the conflicts and characters in

Union Station is the center of controversy and trade for George Russell in ‘The Gilded Age.’ But who built the New York train station in reality?

Jamie Lerner - Author

One of the many joys of HBO's The Gilded Age is the alternative to be informed extra a couple of little-known duration of historical past. Through all the conflicts and characters in The Gilded Age, positive tidbits just happen to return from the true history of America’s Gilded Age, a length of turmoil, scandal, and opulence. Some characters, akin to Mrs. Astor and Stanford White, are actual ancient figures, while others, like the Russells and the Van Rhijns, are fictional.

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Even fiction in The Gilded Age has some sort of foundation on truth. For example, George Russell’s trademark challenge, development Union Station, is according to the major New York City train stations we now know as of late. So who built New York’s Union Station in The Gilded Age and who built the real one?

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Stanford White designs New York’s Union Station in ‘The Gilded Age.’

Episode 7 of The Gilded Age opens with George Russell (Morgan Spector) appearing off the fashion for his new progressive train station in the center of New York City, Union Station, designed by means of Stanford White, performed in The Gilded Age through John Sanders. Funded by the deep-pocketed Russells and designed by the identical architect who designed their area, Union Station would make it easier and extra grandiose than ever to go back and forth to New York City.

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Not handiest that, however Union Station would be lit up with Thomas Edison’s brand-new lightbulb technology. By bringing electricity and central stations into The Gilded Age, the creators are discovering new tactics to place the Russells at the middle of New York’s growth. But in fact, both the timelines and folks concerned had been very different.

There isn’t a New York station known as Union Station, so the station in ‘The Gilded Age’ is in fact a hybrid of real-life teach stations.

Although The Gilded Age makes a number of historical references, Union Station isn't an instantaneous one. There are several Union Stations all over the United States, as the time period “union station” initially simply supposed a teach station this is used by more than one rail firms and contours.

The most renowned of those Union Stations is possibly Union Station in Washington, D.C., which finished building in 1907. It was designed by way of outstanding architect Daniel Burnham, who is most famous for designing the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

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The two teach stations in New York City, on the other hand, are Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. The former used to be originally called Grand Central Depot, built by the Vanderbilts in 1871 and designed by John B. Snook, a few decade prior to the start of The Gilded Age.

Funnily sufficient, even though George Russell wasn’t an actual particular person, many suppose he’s closely impressed by the Vanderbilt railroad barons. In 1903, after a significant crash brought about by way of electric trains, Grand Central was once torn down and replaced with a new design.

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As for Penn Station, many people as of late believe it a hellscape full of overcrowded, overpriced food and drinks, and indiscernible mazes to search out trains. But the original Penn Station used to be a wonder to be marveled at. Originally designed by the major firm McKim, Mead & White (sure, Stanford White) and funded through Pennsylvania Railroad, it was once built in 1910 long after the Grand Central Depot.

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The Union Station featured in The Gilded Age is an architectural, political, and fiscal hybrid of these three stations, which were every built for their own causes and by way of other major figures. But all had something in not unusual: the extravagant design that George Russell all the time prioritizes.

Season 1 of The Gilded Age is now available to movement on HBO Max.

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