Union Depot

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Little Fee Library at Union Depot Train Station in Saint Paul, MN

Address: 214 4th Street East, St Paul, MN, 55101
Upcoming Events: Jump to Union Depot Events

Union Depot was one of America’s great rail stations in the early 20th century. Today, it goes beyond a transportation hub to serve as a year-round destination for your whole family. It’s always free, open to the public and hosts a calendar full of special events.

About Union Depot

By the numbers, it’s 250,000 square feet on 33 acres near the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul, MN. It was originally completed in 1926 and was fully restored in 2011-2012. But as anyone who’s ever been here will tell you, numbers alone fail to describe Union Depot. It is a fun place to come watch locomotives, buses and boats. There are also fun activities, like live music, cultural festivals and movie nights, hosted year round and coffee shops and restaurants. It even has a Little Free Library, so bring some books to trade out.

Ideas for family fun at Union Depot

Train watch at the Rail View Picnic Area

Families can park in Lot D and take advantage of the Rail View Picnic Area, where trainiacs can see freight and passenger trains and airplane fanatics can watch aircraft from Holman Field (the St. Paul Downtown Airport). This area includes six picnic tables under pergolas, free access to both biking and walking paths, and bicycle parking. Plan this trip for a summer weekend, and you can combine it with the Saint Paul Farmers Market. Parking in Lot D is $2/day (subject to change). Can’t make it over as planned? Union Depot’s website has train cams available here.

Burlington Northern Train at Union Depot Train Days
Burlington Northern Train at Union Depot Train Days

Play Games Galore on Wednesdays

On Wednesdays from 10am to 8pm, families can drop by the station to play giant-size versions of games like Chess, Checkers, Connect Four, Dominoes, Jenga, Tic Tac Toe and others. There is also a ping pong table for public use. The games are free and open to the public and, if you prefer, you can bring your own games to sit and play in the activity area. This program was designed to offer fun options for people of all ages who seek a board game challenge and a friendly competition.

Group of children playing life-size chess during a Games Galore Wednesday at Union Depot Train Station in Saint Paul.
Games Galore at Union Depot. Image courtesy Union Depot

Take a public tour

Public tours are offered on select Tuesdays. Led by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, if you decide to take this tour, you may want to put on your pedometer and bring a stroller for the little ones.  It is a one-hour walking tour and covers the equivalent of four blocks. The guide will give you some history of the building and train equipment, point out architectural designs and explain the Union Depots efforts in sustainability.

VIP Bus Tour Group at Union Depot Train Station during the 2015 Family Fun Twin Cities Minnesota Transportation Museum Train Event
VIP Bus Tour at Union Depot during an FFTC event

Participate in free yoga classes

Free yoga classes are often offered at various times throughout the week. Check the station’s event calendar for upcoming dates.

Enjoy the Waiting Room

The waiting room is a huge open space with plenty of room for movement and has plenty to keep you occupied, including:

  • Public art. Fantastic art pieces around the whole depot were chosen and commissioned by 5 different art committees. Interactive art and beautiful art and fun art.  I normally don’t understand art, but I loved it all!
  • Ping-pong. Complete with paddles and balls.  If the table is open, you are free to play.
  • Historical displays to enjoy
  • Search for the butterfly, the mosquito, and the door knob that talks.
  • Big windows looking out over the Mississippi River and the train tracks.

Visit Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store

St. Paul’s iconic toy train store is now located inside Union Depot. Train tables are pay to play. Learn more here.

Doorway to Choo Choo Bob's Train Store at Union Depot Train Station
Choo Choo Bob’s is now in Union Depot

Lowertown Bike Shop and Coffee Station

Yes, you can get your bike fixed here, but you can also just grab a coffee anytime. Open Monday through Saturday and serving coffee drinks, tea, pastries, and a few kid-friendly drinks like lemonade and cocoa.

Little Free Library at Union Depot

Union Depot installed the very first Little Free Library in St. Paul. It can be found on a colorful train cart in the Waiting Room. As with any Little Free Library, guests are invited to take and leave books. Gently used or new travel guides, travel memoirs, transportation history, transportation books for children and local history books are especially appreciated at this location.

Little Fee Library at Union Depot Train Station in Saint Paul, MN
Little Free Library

Christmas & holidays at Union Depot

Union Depot offers a variety of public programs during the holiday season, including a tree-lighting ceremony at the start, free holiday movie screenings, the lovely outdoor European Christmas Market, a special North Pole Express train ride with Santa (that sells out every year) and a stop by the annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. We track all these holiday events on our Family Fun Calendar and in our Family Fun Twin Cities Holiday Guide.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Union Depot in Saint Paul Minnesota 2014
Image courtesy of Union Depot. Credit: Art in the Sky Photography

Union Depot Train Days

Train Days is a special celebration of trains usually held in June at Union Depot. Details of this event have changed over the years, but it usually include tours of trains and train equipment, family-friendly activities, and is always a fun time for train-loving families.

Union Depot

More information

Upcoming Family-Friendly Events


Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again


Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.

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