110 HRES 1497 IH: Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the U.S. House of Representatives 2008-09-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2008 Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure RESOLUTION Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the completion of Washington DC’s Union Station.

Whereas, on February 28, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the act entitled An Act to provide a union station in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; Whereas Daniel Burnham, a noted Chicago architect, was chosen to design Washington DC’s Union Station; Whereas Burnham created Union Station in the Beaux-Arts style, designed after the Baths of Caracalla and Diocletian; Whereas the construction of Union Station was completed in 1908; Whereas at the time of Union Station’s opening, it covered more ground than any other building in the United States and was the largest railroad station in the world; Whereas in 1964, Union Station was designated by the National Register of Historic places as a historical landmark of great importance which must be preserved; Whereas in 1968, in preparation for the Nation’s bicentennial, the decision was made to transform the building into a National Visitor Center, which opened on July 4, 1976; Whereas in 1981, the National Visitor Center closed and legislation was introduced by Senators Daniel Moynihan, Jennings Randolph, Robert Stafford, and Bob Packwood to return Union Station to its original use as a transportation center; Whereas Congress passed the Union Station Redevelopment Act of 1981 and the Department of Transportation was charged with developing a plan that would enable Union Station to financially support its continued operation; Whereas in 1983, Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole created the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation to oversee the development of Union Station into an operating railroad station, to restore the architectural and historical elements of the structure, to explore collaboration with the private sector in the commercial development of the station, and to withdraw the Federal Government from active management of the station; Whereas a partnership was formed between the Federal Government and Union Station Venture Ltd.; Whereas the renovation and restoration of Union Station began on August 13, 1986, with the ringing of an old train bell, and took 2 years; Whereas the restoration of Union Station was the largest public-private restoration project accomplished in the United States, totaling $160,000,000; Whereas the grand reopening was held on September 29, 1988; Whereas Union Station has more than 210,000 square feet of retail space, including 50,000 square feet of restaurant space, 100,000 square feet of office space, and a 2,194 space parking garage; Whereas Union Station has been the site of presidential inaugural balls, citywide celebrations, and world-class exhibitions and events; Whereas the redeveloped Union Station spurred tremendous economic growth along the H Street corridor, Capitol Hill, and in the surrounding neighborhood, and 20 years later, the growth continues; Whereas 32,000,000 people visit Union Station annually; and Whereas Union Station is the number one tourist destination in Washington, DC: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)celebrates the 100th year anniversary of Washington DC’s Union Station; (2)applauds the efforts of the people who worked to preserve this national treasure; and (3)encourages the people of the United States to continue to visit and learn about Union Station and its storied history.