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Show Street Address: 300 South anl Rio Grande --------»-,.,„„;.<..„..,„..,..„.„___,________...- _.. Architect/Builder: llcnrv S. Schlacho _____._. _ Building Materials: Brick and stone Building Type/Style: Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts styles 0 .. .. Site No: Description of physical appearance & significant architectural features(include additions, alterations, ancillary structures, and landscaping if applicable) The original plans for the Station called, for a building that was ' • described (in 1908) as "French Rennaisance1 ' In style. The- actual building veriest considerably from original elevations and features elements of both Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts styles. The architect of the Station - v:as Henry S, Schlachs of Chicago. He had previously designed St. -Paulas Church in Chicago and the Rio Grande Station at Grand Junction, Colorado. The follov/ing is a description of the station site and building from the 3alt_.uL_ake- Tribune, August lif, 1910: . . ' " •* lf The depot site Is a piece of property lIj-52 feet long and 330 feet : side only four blocks from the exact commercial center of the rapidly growing city of Salt Lake. The impressive station building is'41? feet long by 98 feet .vd.de. It centers on 300 South. Street ? one of,'the .main bu:sl"rie-s,5v thoroughfares "and has-\ an" immense .approach Q-rjibreground on. the, " "town'.side "and large," roomy, covered pi at forms ^paralleling .the"'; tfacks" : " •" on. the railroad 'side. " • • / "/-..'-'•.: •-' " . '/; .- " '."The center portion of the building contains a. "waiting room -Ikk • ?rc^#eet long by 83 feet v/ide, • v/ith -a clear height of 58. feet from floor 'to ceiling. This large room is lighted by three immense arched windows on each side -Cea.ch, 28 by 30 feet)through green opalescent, glass.. ,The'"Interior -of the waiting, room is treated in-.an .adaptation' o-f •"•a- classic Statement of Historical Significance: r~~'~ construction Date: In addition to the architectural significance of the Denver and Hio ~ Grande Station, the building is important for several .other rea.sons. -Severa historical events, such as the arrival;and departure of soldiers..during . Y'orld'-War I and World Y/ar II, thearrival in Utah ofprominent -public "official as v/ell .as other famous people, are associated v.dth the station. . . •• -.Perhaps of more importance, the station is -a tangible monument" -of the conflict between George Goulcl, son of the famous financier Jay Gould,' and Zdv/arcl..H* Harriman. George Gould .constructed a transcontinental railroad to compete v/ith the Union Pacific line which was under the control of .Harriraan. In order to establish a transcontinental- route' it v/as necessary-for Could.to finance the construction of a railroad from San Francisco to -SaltLake City. This railroad, financed by the Goulct Interests-,, avas ' the V/estern Pacific, The large debt incurred by Gould in financing, the railroad led 2-->bert G. Athearn in his "book, Rebel_ _of. the Rockies^-. .-..A History; PI the Denve £n l--.j:ij:gLjJ:rJin.(^ e , ^est ern 3?ailro ad, to describe the Western" Pacific as "an ':T&3tross hung by Gould around the neck of the Denver and. Rio Grande rail-. road,, At Salt Lake City the Denver and Rio Grande railroad, constructed ":'ror:i Denver to Salt Lake City in 1383, connected with the Western Pacific ;o form 'the last link in Gould 1 s transcontinental .railroad systenu In order ;.j provide facilities for the district offices of both the Denver and Rio .•"•"-ride railroad and /the Y/ectern Pacific, and to provide a modern, impressive •':ot:Lqn to lure travelers "rora the Union Pacific^, the Rio Grande station v/as .n-.v^ructed. It stands t:>:;ay -G s reminder of the financial struggles for •:? Yrol of the nation's transportation by the railroad, barons during the ' -• J.Qth Century and early 20th Century. The station, v:hich has been a ';-r Salt Lake City landmark cinco 1910, servos as o symbol of a by-gone \.hon railroad transp^-rtr-ticn v:-:?s the best form of overland travel |
