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Washington Union Station - Quiz
Washington Union Station
  • 1. Who was the primary architect of Washington Union Station?
A) Pierre Charles L'Enfant
B) André Le Nôtre
C) Daniel H. Burnham
D) Louis St. Gaudens
  • 2. Which architectural feature inspired the exterior and main façade of the station?
A) Baths of Diocletian
B) Colosseum
C) Pantheon
D) Arch of Constantine
  • 3. How high is the waiting room ceiling at Union Station?
A) 1837 feet
B) 600 feet
C) 46 feet
D) 96 feet
  • 4. What kind of stone was used in the station that came from a previously unused quarry?
A) Marble
B) Limestone
C) White granite
D) Sandstone
  • 5. Who designed the six colossal statues located in the Attic block?
A) Daniel H. Burnham
B) Pierce Anderson
C) Louis St. Gaudens
D) André Le Nôtre
  • 6. Which figure represents Electricity in the 'Progress of Railroading' statues?
A) Prometheus
B) Thales
C) Apollo
D) Archimedes
  • 7. The substitution of which category in the station's iconography reflects the power of an American lobbying bloc?
A) Manufacturing
B) Mining
C) Agriculture
D) Commerce
  • 8. How many centurion statues were created for the station's main hall?
A) 46
B) 96
C) 6
D) 1893
  • 9. Why were shields added to the centurion statues?
A) To represent military defense
B) To cover their nudity
C) To hold station signage
D) To act as structural supports
  • 10. What type of fireproof tiles were used in the loggias?
A) Marble tiles
B) Granite tiles
C) Guastavino tiles
D) Ceramic tiles
  • 11. Which event served as inspiration for the final aspect of the station's design?
A) The City Beautiful movement convention
B) The opening of Euston railway station
C) World's Columbian Exposition of 1893
D) The American Renaissance fair
  • 12. The station's layout is based on which type of Baroque garden plan?
A) Goosefoot
B) Labyrinth
C) Gridiron
D) Spiral
  • 13. What facility in the original station is now occupied by a restaurant?
A) Mortuary
B) Barber shop
C) Waiting room
D) Presidential suite
  • 14. Which ancient structure inspired the interior vaulted spaces of the station?
A) Parthenon
B) Colosseum
C) Arch of Constantine
D) Baths of Diocletian
  • 15. Who assisted Daniel H. Burnham in the design of the station?
A) Pierre Charles L'Enfant
B) André Le Nôtre
C) Louis St. Gaudens
D) Pierce Anderson
  • 16. What entity supported the Union Station project despite local opposition?
A) The local police department
B) The D.C. homeowners board
C) The Northeast Washington Citizens' Association
D) The federal government
  • 17. When were the preliminary plans for the Union Depot presented to the District of Columbia?
A) March 10, 1902
B) January 10, 1902
C) December 10, 1901
D) January 13, 1902
  • 18. Which streets were proposed to have tunnels built under the tracks?
A) K, L, and M Streets NE
B) First, Second, and Third Streets NE
C) Delaware, Massachusetts, and Florida Avenues
D) H, I, and J Streets NE
  • 19. What was the estimated extra cost to build a tunnel for H Street NE?
A) $1,000
B) $10,000
C) $100,000
D) $5,000
  • 20. Where did the Northeast Washington Citizens' Association meet to express their outrage?
A) The U.S. Capitol building
B) The D.C. District Commissioner office
C) The Union Depot site
D) Northeast Temple
  • 21. Who did the president of the Northeast Washington Citizens' Association claim controlled Congress?
A) The Pennsylvania Railroad
B) The federal government
C) The District Commissioners
D) The residents of Swampoodle
  • 22. What was the final decision regarding H Street as announced on March 10, 1902?
A) It would be relocated to Florida Avenue
B) It would be replaced by a streetcar line
C) It would be permanently closed
D) It would remain open with a tunnel
  • 23. Approximately how many houses were demolished to make way for the station?
A) Almost 500
B) Exactly 50
C) More than 100
D) Fewer than 20
  • 24. What was the name of the impoverished neighborhood erased by the construction?
A) Tiber Creek Village
B) The Northeast District
C) Delaware Heights
D) Swampoodle
  • 25. What happened to Tiber Creek during the construction process?
A) It was diverted to the Potomac River
B) It was completely drained
C) It was put in a tunnel
D) It was turned into a public park
  • 26. Which avenue disappeared from the map between Massachusetts Avenue and Florida Avenue?
A) Delaware Avenue
B) M Street
C) L Street
D) K Street
  • 27. What was a defining characteristic of the neighborhood called Swampoodle?
A) High-end retail
B) Affluence
C) Government offices
D) Rampant crime
  • 28. What area of the city were the railroads supposed to vacate as a result of the new station?
A) Foggy Bottom
B) The National Mall
C) Georgetown
D) Capitol Hill
  • 29. In what year was the Act to provide a union railroad station in the District of Columbia signed into law?
A) 1903
B) 1905
C) 1901
D) 1899
  • 30. Which president signed the act authorizing the construction of the union station?
A) William Howard Taft
B) Woodrow Wilson
C) Theodore Roosevelt
D) William McKinley
  • 31. What was the minimum cost requirement for the station according to the 1903 Act?
A) $4 million
B) $10 million
C) $2 million
D) $6 million
  • 32. What was the actual cost of the main station building?
A) $1.5 million
B) Over $16 million
C) Over $5.9 million
D) Exactly $4 million
  • 33. What was the total cost for all improvements associated with Union Station, including infrastructure?
A) $12 million
B) $4 million
C) Over $16 million
D) $5.9 million
  • 34. Which entity was authorized to construct the station?
A) Senate Park Commission
B) National Capitol Planning Commission
C) District of Columbia Railroad Commission
D) Washington Terminal Company
  • 35. How much government funding did each carrier receive to compensate for eliminating grade crossings?
A) $16 million
B) $1.5 million
C) $12 million
D) $4 million
  • 36. The total cost of $16 million is equivalent to what amount in 2025?
A) $481 million
B) $177 million
C) $361 million
D) $120 million
  • 37. In what year did Union Station open?
A) 1915
B) 1910
C) 1898
D) 1907
  • 38. What is the IATA airport code for Union Station?
A) ZWU
B) IAD
C) WAS
D) DCA
  • 39. Which entity took control of the station in 2024?
A) The city of Washington D.C.
B) Private developers
C) The federal government
D) Amtrak
  • 40. During which historical event did the station reach its peak traffic of 200,000 passengers per day?
A) The Vietnam War
B) World War II
C) World War I
D) The Great Depression
  • 41. In what year was a headhouse wing added and the station renovated into a shopping mall?
A) 1995
B) 1988
C) 1975
D) 2005
  • 42. On what date did the Trump administration announce plans to negotiate federal management of non-railroad areas?
A) January 20, 2025
B) August 27, 2025
C) December 31, 2024
D) August 27, 2024
  • 43. What was the name of the first B&O train to arrive at Washington Union Station?
A) Federal
B) Silver Streak
C) Capitol Limited
D) Pittsburgh Express
  • 44. How many station tracks entered from the northeast and terminated at the headhouse?
A) 32
B) 9
C) 16
D) 23
  • 45. The Presidential Suite was originally built to prevent a repeat of the assassination of which president?
A) Harry Truman
B) Dwight D. Eisenhower
C) William Howard Taft
D) James A. Garfield
  • 46. During World War II, what was the Presidential Suite converted into?
A) Ticket office
B) Food court
C) U.S.O. canteen
D) Stationmaster's office
  • 47. In what year did the Pennsylvania Railroad's Federal train crash into the station?
A) 1953
B) 1976
C) 1941
D) 1907
  • 48. What was the model of the electric locomotive involved in the 1953 crash?
A) GG1
B) Pennsylvania Special
C) Pittsburgh Express
D) Silver Streak
  • 49. What caused the 1953 crash according to the investigation?
A) A closed anglecock
B) Excessive speed on the tracks
C) A failed bumper block
D) A malfunctioning signal
  • 50. Which film's finale was inspired by the 1953 crash at Union Station?
A) The Last Train
B) Silver Streak
C) The Federal Express
D) Capitol Hill
  • 51. In what year did the Civil Service Commission chairman first express interest in using Union Station as a visitor center?
A) 1981
B) 1976
C) 1967
D) 1988
  • 52. What was the official name of the slide show presentation area in the Main Hall?
A) The Pit
B) Primary Audio-Visual Experience
C) The Main Concourse
D) The Visitor Center
  • 53. On what date were the theaters closed and staff laid off at the National Visitor Center?
A) December 29, 1981
B) October 28, 1978
C) July 4, 1976
D) February 23, 1981
  • 54. What was the most common question asked by visitors at the National Visitor Center?
A) Where are the trains?
B) When does the slide show start?
C) Where is the Pit?
D) Where is the parking garage?
  • 55. Which piece of legislation was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on December 29, 1981?
A) The Bicentennial Visitor Act
B) Union Station Redevelopment Act
C) The Amtrak Restoration Act
D) The D.C. Infrastructure Act
  • 56. Who awarded $70 million to the restoration effort in 1988?
A) Ronald Reagan
B) The Department of the Interior
C) The United States Senate
D) Elizabeth Dole
  • 57. What material was used to refit the Main Hall floor during restoration?
A) Tile
B) Marble
C) Plastic
D) Concrete
  • 58. What was discovered by crews while installing new HVAC systems?
A) Structural blueprints
B) Antique items
C) Hidden gold
D) A time capsule
  • 59. Who was the previous operator accused of neglecting the Union Station mall?
A) The Rouse Company
B) Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation
C) Phoenix Theatres
D) Union Station Venture II
  • 60. Which individual designed the Union Station Mall?
A) Roy Williams
B) Benjamin C. Thompson
C) W. Graham Claytor Jr.
D) Jackson Ewing
  • 61. What is the new passenger concourse named after?
A) Jackson Ewing
B) Joseph H. Boardman
C) W. Graham Claytor Jr.
D) Benjamin C. Thompson
  • 62. In what year did Amtrak move its headquarters out of Union Station?
A) 2013
B) 2017
C) 2022
D) 2019
  • 63. How many retailers and eateries were reported to be in the station in 2022?
A) About 75
B) Over 100
C) Exactly 10
D) About 40
  • 64. What was the main reason for the decline in stores during the early 2020s?
A) The end of the leasehold
B) COVID-19 pandemic
C) Renovation construction
D) Lack of passenger traffic
  • 65. When did Amtrak begin condemnation proceedings to take over the leasehold interest of Union Station?
A) April 2022
B) February 2025
C) July 2024
D) March 2024
  • 66. What entity did Ashkenazy hand the mall to through foreclosure?
A) USRC
B) Amtrak
C) Rexmark
D) USDOT
  • 67. How many years is the modernization and expansion plan intended to cover?
A) 10 years
B) 50 years
C) 20 years
D) 25 years
  • 68. Who ruled that Amtrak could seize the station's commercial space through eminent domain?
A) The Federal Railroad Administration
B) Judge Amit Mehta
C) Judge John Roberts
D) The Supreme Court
  • 69. When did Amtrak officially take over control of Union Station?
A) Late July 2024
B) April 2022
C) March 2024
D) August 2025
  • 70. Which former operator sued to prevent the approval of the leasehold agreement?
A) Ashkenazy
B) Rexmark
C) NCPC
D) USSM
  • 71. What track was reopened as a platform track for Amtrak and VRE use in August 2025?
A) Track 30
B) Track 5
C) Track 10
D) Track 22
  • 72. By what year is the Concourse Modernization Project expected to double passenger capacity?
A) 2027
B) 2025
C) 2024
D) 2026
  • 73. What program was launched in March 2026 to celebrate America250?
A) Railroad safety education initiative
B) Civics-themed storytelling program
C) National train museum gallery
D) Historical monument expansion
  • 74. Union Station is the busiest station capable of handling which type of railcars?
A) Superliner
B) Viewliner
C) Amfleet
D) Horizon
  • 75. Which commuter rail service links Washington to Maryland and West Virginia?
A) Metra
B) LIRR
C) Virginia Railway Express
D) MARC
  • 76. What kind of platforms serve the ground level tracks at Union Station?
A) Elevated island platforms
B) Low-level track platforms
C) High-level bay platforms
D) Surface-level boarding zones
  • 77. Which Metro line serves the Union Station Metrorail station?
A) Blue Line
B) Red Line
C) Yellow Line
D) Orange Line
  • 78. Where is the Metrorail station located relative to the main building?
A) Adjacent to the eastern parking garage
B) Above the main concourse
C) Underground beneath the western side
D) Across the street on Massachusetts Avenue
  • 79. What is another name for the H Street Bridge that serves the DC Streetcar?
A) Union Span
B) Railroad Overpass
C) Capital Crossing
D) Hopscotch Bridge
  • 80. What type of engine is typically used by Northeast Regional trains for the northern leg of their journey from D.C.?
A) Siemens ACS-64 electric engine
B) Steam locomotive
C) GE Genesis diesel engine
D) Dual-mode turbine engine
  • 81. Which government official announced the new bus facility in 2011?
A) John Porcari
B) Ray LaHood
C) Anthony Foxx
D) Pete Buttigieg
  • 82. When did Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines move their D.C. operations to the new facility?
A) January 1, 2017
B) November 15, 2011
C) August 1, 2011
D) September 26, 2012
  • 83. Which company began offering service to Maryland, New Jersey, and New York from Union Station in 2017?
A) OurBus
B) Megabus
C) BoltBus
D) Greyhound
  • 84. Who took over Megabus's northeastern routes after it discontinued service?
A) OurBus
B) Peter Pan
C) Tripper Bus
D) Greyhound
  • 85. What is located just north of Union Station?
A) The Capitol Building
B) The Ivy City Yard
C) The National Mall
D) The Smithsonian
  • 86. Which high-speed train sets have a new maintenance facility at Ivy City Yard?
A) VRE
B) MARC
C) Acela
D) Silver Meteor
  • 87. Which maintenance facility is located in the southwest corner of the Ivy City Yard?
A) Amtrak's heavy repair shop
B) VRE's fueling station
C) MARC's storage yard
D) Metro's Brentwood facility
  • 88. In what year was the movie 'Hannibal' released, which featured Union Station?
A) 1951
B) 1939
C) 2001
D) 2003
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