For a number of years, our home-away-from-home has been the Union Station Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
Beginning with construction in August of 1898 and a budget of $200,000, Union Station served as Nashville’s primary train station from 1900 until 1979.
Although the building faced the wrecking ball multiple times, the Save Our Station movement fought to have the building preserved. It became a National Historic Landmark shortly thereafter, preserving the building for future generations. Union Station reopened as a hotel in 1986 and joined the Marriott Autograph Collection in 2012.
The historic fireplace in the lobby is original to the building, and was once wood burning.
The ceiling of the lobby houses 128 panels of original curved stained glass manufactured by the Luminous Prism Company, a competitor of the Tiffany Glass Company.
The hotel lobby bar – ERGO, occupies a space originally used as the ticket counter, barber shop and shoe shine stand. The original floor was uncovered during the 2016 transformation of the hotel, and can be seen just around the corner on the side of the bar facing away from the lobby.
There are a couple of shuffleboard tables to enjoy. The live music that happens most evening is a pleasant background.
A relief of the Bully 108, a modern steam engine which L&N was proud to have servicing Union Station. It is meant to contrast the chariot on the opposite end of the lobby to show how far travel had progressed.
With its 125 hotel room – each room a different size and different decor – the Union Station is a perfect fit for our Nashville home-away-from-home. It is just uphill from the glitter of the Neon and the main tourist area and within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Bridgestone arena, and other fantastic food and entertainment. The walk uphill is just enough to keep us limber without tiring ourselves out. We highly recommend the Union Station in Nashville.