Boston's South Station opened in 1899 as the largest train station in the world and remained the busiest in the United States for many years. Originally designed by the H.H. Richardson's successor form, Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, the South Station story is another inspiring example of saving the old from demolition to help interpret the new.
Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge 1899
The tracks shown are that of the Atlantic Avenue Elevated, which carried passengers to North Station. Much of the ridership used the El to access ferry service to East Boston until the 1934 Sumner Tunnel became the preferred means of crossing Boston Harbor. The El shut down in 1938 and the structure was used for scrap metal during World War II.
Now completely renovated for the 21st century, South Station still provides a glimpse into the past century of American history as it arrived and departed through this marvelous terminal. Come rediscover the age of the locomotive on this tour of South Station.
