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Union Station overcomes obstacles en route to big celebration

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Union Station is looking ahead to its centennial celebration, but not without looking back at some pretty big hurdles. Popular exhibits like “King Tut” have been keeping Union Station afloat. However, the exhibits alone aren’t what have kept the doors open.

Union Station was once so badly deteriorated, there was a plan in place to demolish it. Eventually the people voted in a bi-state tax that saved it. Then around 2008, the landmark ran into another snag when the business model put the entire financial burden on Science City, but it couldn’t bring in enough money.

This time Union Station was able to bounce back by filling vacant office space

“We were successful in getting the chamber of commerce and the KC Area Development Council to move to Union Station, which really made that the center of commerce,” said board chairman Bob Regnier.

Regnier says things are going well financially, especially with the well-attended “King Tut” exhibit. Now the centennial civic committee is looking ahead to hosting a celebration for union station’s big 100th anniversary. For more information about upcoming events, click on this link.