In the summer of 1929, sixty-seven years after the Pacific Railways Act was passed enabling transcontinental railroads to accept passengers, construction of Union Station was embarked.  Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the building using art deco and terra cotta.  Underwood explained his ideas by saying "It breaks away from the acceptable classical standard, and I believe it more honest and sincere than passenger stations clothed in garb of Roman temples."

Work for a temporary frame depot went underway on May 9, 1929.  By the end of the month, Burlington and Union Pacific made a joint announcement of plans for a new Union Station. Their purpose was to provide Omaha railroad passengers terminal facilities equal to those of any city of its size in the country. On July 29, 1929, with the completion of the temporary station, construction of the new facility began.

Peter Kiewit Sons' were commissioned to build the steel framed structure. After 20 months and $3.5 million, on January 15, 1931, the 124,000-square-foot building was complete. Union Station was the first art deco railroad terminal in the United States and to this day is considered one of the finest examples of art deco architecture in the country by the City of Omaha's landmark heritage preservation commission. During it's first year, 1.5 million passengers passed through Union Station.

Four railroad employees are engraved on the outside of the cream-colored building, each with a tool from his trade. On the north side of the building a conductor and a locomotive engineer can be found; one holding a lantern and the other an oil can. From the 10th Street entrance a civil engineer and a brakeman are depicted, one holding a transit and the other a track wrench. "We have tried to express the distinctive character of the railroad --- strength, power and masculinity," Underwood said.

Engraved at the north entrance, are two significant quotes. One represents the value of the railroad and the other dedicates Union Station to the people. "No other improvement. can equal in utility the railroad," Abraham Lincoln said on March 9, 1832 in his first political announcement. The 23-year-old was running for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly. The quote, "No other improvement that reason will justify us in hoping for, can equal in utility the railroad," which was shortened for space, goes on to describe the railroad as a "never failing source of communication."

Engraved above the north entrance, "Dedicated by the railways of Omaha to serve, comfort and convenience of the people," was said by Carl R. Gray, president of Union Pacific System. This quote became standard practice for Union Station's 430 employees.