Broad Street Station

Rephotography Project

Broad Street Station (c. 1917)

Broad Street Station (2014)

Site Name: The Science Museum of Virginia (formerly Broad Street Station)

Date of Construction: January 6, 1917

Reason for Construction: Southern terminus from Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad. Also handled traffic from the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Seaboard Air Line Railway that was previously routed through the Main Street Station.

Site History: Before the construction of the Broad Street Station, trains were routed through Main Street Station and private stations such as the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad station at Eighth and Broad Street. The RF&P station on Broad Street handled lots of train traffic which created problems such as blocking crosswalks, scaring horses, and kicking up mud. One of these issues was eventually addressed. The RF&P Railroad agreed to pay for half the cost to pave Broad Street. The last train to depart Broad Street Station was in 1975.

Area History: The Science Museum of Virginia lies on West Broad Street, an area dedicated in part to education, with lots of college students, many landmarks and much standing architecture from historic Virginia. This area greatly values these educational footholds and more such as the Empire Theatre and the Library of Virginia. These historic sites reflect the affluence of many early Richmonders. This area, however, also housed many industrial workers who lived in segregated communities in the nearby tenement buildings and small apartments who worked chiefly for steel and tobacco factories.

What about the site has changed?: There are no longer trains in front of the building. The exterior is relatively unchanged. In 2003, a kugel ball was installed in front of the building.

What about the surrounding area has changed?: The surrounding buildings have not changed much other than the construction of the Children’s Museum in 1977. The surrounding area’s primarily industrial labor has changed, as most Richmonders no longer work for modest wages in large, unsafe factories. There are still apartments, restaurants, and people who frequent them, but they are no longer impoverished or segregated.

Reflection: The Broad Street Station and all the train stations in Richmond have changed frequently over the years. Also, the Downtown Expressway used to be a railroad route.

Sources:

"Our History." Welcome to the Children's Museum of Richmond. http://www.c-mor.org/about/our-history (accessed March 23, 2014).

"RICHMOND RAIL HISTORY." Richmond Railroad Museum. http://www.richmondrailroadmuseum.org/railroad_history.htm (accessed March 23, 2014).

"Science Museum of Virginia: History of Broad Street Station." Science Museum of Virginia: History of Broad Street Station. http://sciencemuseumofvirginia.blogspot.com/2009/12/history-of-broad-street-station_9387.html (accessed March 23, 2014).