Springfield, MA

The Springfield station, which sits on a railroad viaduct above street level, opened in November 1994 to replace a smaller street-level building. Across the tracks stands the former Springfield Union Station erected by the Boston and Albany Railroad (B&A) in 1926. Passengers entered Union Station from Frank B. Murray Street, and then had to move through the lobby and climb a set of stairs to an upper story in order to reach the platform. This grand building would have been familiar to native son Theodor Seuss Geisel, who gained international fame as "Dr. Seuss." His beloved children's books, such as the Cat in the Hat, come to life in a series of sculptures at the Springfield Museums.

The old B&A station building and its adjoining three-story baggage house have been vacant since the early 1970s. Revitalization plans crafted by the city are underway to transform the structure into a mixed-use development to include transportation services, retail and office units, and a conference center.

Settled by Massachusetts Bay Colony explorers in 1636, the town site was chosen due to its location at the confluence of the Connecticut and Agawam Rivers. The Connecticut River became a major north-south transportation route through New England, and a road later provided Springfield with vital links to New York and up into Canada.

Proximity to iron mines fostered the growth of metal craft industries. In 1794, the U.S. Armory was established in Springfield, and in the 1850s, inventors there created and produced the celebrated "Springfield rifle." Plentiful rivers and streams in the area led to the founding of a number of paper companies in nearby West Springfield. Today, the city is noted for its concentration of institutions of higher learning, including 3 four-year colleges and an additional 11 universities spread among the surrounding communities.