When it was opened in 1898, this Italianate style building, designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball, was hailed by newspapers around the world for its grand architecture and accommodations.

The station is a contributing property to the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District, and sits southeast of the Old Market, and immediately north of Little Italy.

Later that year, construction was halted due to Union Pacific's financial difficulties, and in 1897 the Burlington announced plans to build a new station.

This new Burlington station opened on July 4, 1898, in time for the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition, a glittering inter-national showcase that attracted visitors to Omaha from around the world.

The main lobby featured a grand circular staircase that led passengers downstairs to track level and the trains.

The interior featured Sienna marble columns, and mosaic floors with the staircase accented with bronze castings of Rocky Mountain Sheep heads.

The walls of the depot were built of light gray brick and buff Indiana limestone; the roof was covered in red glazed tile.

The remodeling in 1930 changed the building to conform to the elements of the Neo-Classical Revival, which simplified the exterior, removing the granite columns, and much of the external detail.

[2] When the economy fell and a real estate crisis began in 2008, low pre-sales of condos stopped the project and since then the building continued to languish with an uncertain future.