Once Kansas City’s busiest railroad depot, today this historic landmark is home to attractions such as museums, a planetarium and a theater.
Enjoy a day of family-friendly discovery and entertainment at Union Station. Have fun with interactive science exhibits, learn about the solar system and attend live theatrical shows. Inaugurated in 1914, Union Station served as the main railway station for Kansas City until its closure in 1985. This Beaux Arts-style architectural landmark opened as a tourist attraction in 1996. Intercity train services restarted in 2002.
A major highlight is the Science City at Union Station, a hands-on science and technology museum with activities suitable for all ages. Marvel at huge dinosaur fossils, join in a game of tug-of-war and observe as scientists perform experiments. Journey through American railroad history, be amazed by the illusions in a mock hotel and ride a bike along a 30-foot-high (9-meter) wire. Within the museum is the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium, where daily shows educate visitors about celestial objects.
Become a train enthusiast at the free Model Rail Experience. It features 8,000 square feet (740 square meters) of scale model train tracks and moving trains, which journey around a city layout. There’s also an area for traveling exhibits inside the station building. These exhibits cover a wide range of topics and in the past have included the discovery of King Tut, the Titanic and ancient mummies from around the world.
Sit on a comfortable leather seat in the modern, multiscreen theater and watch educational movies, history documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters. Enjoy performances by local drama companies at the 200-seat theater.
The site is located at the southern edge of the Crossroads Arts District. Get here easily by taking the free KC Streetcar from Downtown Kansas City. If you drive, use the parking available for a fee at a secure on-site garage. Nearby points of interest include the National World War I Museum and Memorial and the Sea Life Aquarium.
Union Station is open daily and admission to the building is free. The admission fees and opening hours of the individual attractions vary. Find more information and a list of current events on the station’s official website.