At the opening of the Union Station in 1914, Fred Harvey's restaurant and newsstand were popular attractions. The post card pictured was purchased from the newsstand about a year after the station opened and was one of a set of 10 views made by the Detroit Publishing Company. Titled New Union Station, Kansas City, Mo; Looking into the Main Waiting Room From The Grand Lobby, the card has a lengthy legend on the address side that reads, in part:In size only two passenger stations in America - the Pennsylvania and the Grand Central in New York City - surpass Kansas City's new Union Station. In combined area of lobbies and waiting rooms the Kansas City Station is first. The grand lobby...is of majestic proportions, having an area of 22,060 square feet; the main waiting room an area of 26,100 square feet. The ceiling of the waiting room is 73 feet high. A central arch leads from the Grand Lobby into the main waiting room, but incoming passengers enter the lobby through 'midways' on either side...Other cards in the set show the east end of the grand lobby; main entrance at night; exterior views of the station and plaza and one of a view from the Main Street viaduct; the main waiting room; ticket office and grand lobby; ticket office and crowd; subways for baggage and express, and a sunset view of the entrance. Kansas City Times, July 23, 1982.
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