On 5 September 1850, the president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte visited Cherbourg and demanded the continuation of work on the Arsenal.

The station was opened on 4 August 1858 by Napoleon III who arrived on the imperial train from Paris.

Queen Victoria visited the city and its station the same day and took part in the grandiose celebrations.

The third dock of the Cherbourg Arsenal, 1 200 000m³ in size, was opened and a steam ship immediately sailed from it.

At the end of the day, a statue of Napoleon I on a horse by Armand Le Véel was unveiled.