RENOVATION OF BUTTERFLY CANOPY

The purpose of this project is the restoration and preservation of the last remaining passenger concourse butterfly canopy at Ogden’s Union Station. One of five umbrella sheds built in 1928, these canopies protected travelers from wet and snowy weather as they moved to and from the passenger platforms.

Like all other interaction between two powerful railroad companies, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, the final design of the canopies was chosen after some wrangling. The Southern Pacific style with its’ wider top was finally selected and all the canopies at Ogden’s Union Station were constructed in this design.

Ogden is particularly significant to rail travel in America. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, Ogden became the designated “Junction City”. The two most powerful railroad companies in the nation, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, agreed that all rail service, passenger and freight would stop in Ogden for connections to all points, north, south, east or west. Through the decades during the golden age of rail travel, the canopies sheltered millions of travelers as they made their way to their destination. These sheds were a part of the depot until 1969 when all but the shed closest to the building were destroyed.

The canopy is approximately 1250 linear feet of steel pedestals 20 feet apart in 65 sections and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Canopy before restoration.	View to North Photo taken August 9,2007 ,